Media Release: Confirmed: Pokies Operators Reap in the Profits

Confirmed: Pokies Operators Reap in the Profits

A parliamentary response to questions asked by Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb MLC has confirmed that on a statewide average venues operating poker machines under the new Future Gaming Machine licensing model since 1 July 2023 have received extraordinary profits.

“It is now obvious why the government was pressured to abandon its mandatory poker machine pre-commitment card.  The pokies industry was circling the wagons to protect these extraordinary and shocking pokies revenue windfalls,” Ms Webb said.

“The statewide average likely increase in pokies revenue for the 2023-24 financial year is 55.91 per cent.  What an obscene gifted boost in profits to be granted for something which causes so much harm to the community.”

“The top thirty or so venues have received a likely increased in profits of almost 62 per cent.”

“Advocates warned the government at the time the new licensing arrangements were put through the parliament that it would risk entrenching profits at the expense of the community, which is why the proposed mandatory pre commitment card was promised to assist mitigating that damage.”

“This data confirms the pokies industry have won and are laughing all the way to the bank.

“Given the slippery way the Government has presented this ‘likely’ data, I believe there are venues getting super profits, with an increase in retained profits of over 100 per cent – if that is not the case, it’s on the Government to deny it, ” Ms Webb said.

The following aggregate data for licensed venues for the 2023-24 financial year was provided by the government in response to a Question from Ms Webb.

• The statewide average increase in the retained profits for licensed hotels and clubs is 55.91 per cent.
• The percentage increase in the retained profits for approximately the top one third of licensed hotels and clubs (30 venues) is

61.99 per cent.

• The percentage increase in the retained profits for the approximate middle one third of licensed hotels and clubs (30 venues) is

51.01 per cent.

• The percentage increase in the retained profits for the approximate bottom one third of hotels and clubs (31 venues) is 43 per cent.

The Government’s response provided on Thursday 21 Novemebr 2024, to Ms Webb’s Question (submitted on 30 October this year) can be read here, or as a pdf below.