The New South Wales (NSW) government is boosting funding for the GambleAware programme with an extra A$1.3m.
It plans to expand the organisation’s free counselling and support services to 49 locations around the state, according to a press release. This marks a 44% increase from the previous 34 sites.
Back in June 2025, a report by the NSW Audit Office said that regulators weren’t doing enough to minimise harm caused by gambling. Additionally, the state’s gaming-machine strategy didn’t have specific goals to lower this damage.
The new funding will bring on five more peer support workers, for a total of 16 statewide. Last year, GambleAware representatives assisted 4,170 people and provided crisis help to over 9,500 via its helpline.
Contracts for the expanded services were awarded following a competitive tender process. Providers include Wesley Community Services and Mission Australia.
Gaming and Racing Minister David Harris defended the measure after an independent evaluation recommended higher funding for community engagement and operations. The injection lifts the government’s total Responsible Gambling Fund commitment.
The fund received A$20.7m for the 2025-26 year, up from A$19.2m the previous year. State officials claim the package balances industry viability with public health.
The administration faces intensifying pressure from anti-gambling advocates and internal party factions, as critics argue the administration is failing to curb escalating poker machine losses.
Data shows NSW players lost a record A$8.64bn in 2024, while a damning audit revealed the state lacked clear targets to reduce gambling harm.
Gambling opponents say government not doing enough
Unions NSW and charity groups have attacked the administration for a lack of ambition related to responsible gambling, and criticised Premier Chris Minns for rejecting a mandatory cashless gaming card system.
An independent panel recommended the cashless system following a 2024 trial, but Minns labelled the trial ineffective and cited high compliance costs for venues.
The Labor government has instead prioritised incremental regulatory adjustments, including reducing the statewide gaming machine entitlement cap by more than 3,000 machines.
Meanwhile, cash input limits for new machines were reduced from A$5,000 to A$500. Venues must also now deploy responsible gambling officers and maintain mandatory incident registers.
The state has further banned external gambling signage and prohibited political donations from clubs with gaming machines.
Automatic teller machines have also been removed from gaming areas to break continuous play, and gambling advertisements are now barred from all public transport assets across the network.
The gaming industry remains a vital source of revenue for the state budget, however. Poker machine tax receipts should surpass A$2.6bn this financial year. This reliance complicates deeper legislative rollbacks.
Furthermore, on a national level, Australia will curb gambling advertising from January 2027, banning live-sport television ads during daytime hours and restricting online exposure. Online keno will also be banned.
The government also intends to implement a statewide exclusion register and expand facial recognition technology later this term.
Banks and regulators will gain stronger tools against illegal operators, but critics say Labor’s response to the Murphy inquiry leaves recommendations, including the advertising ban, unfinished.
Reform advocates say the package is weak, while wagering groups warn tightened rules could push customers offshore.
