A statewide gambling exclusion system will become a central part of New South Wales’ latest reforms, with mandatory facial recognition planned for gaming-room entrances from 2028.
The Minns Labor Government says the package will strengthen protections while tightening rules covering gaming machines, gambling promotions and online gambling harm.
The measures follow the NSW Gambling Survey 2024, which found that 3.1% of adults experience moderate-risk gambling and 0.9% experience high-risk gambling.
One Exclusion System Across NSW
People choosing to exclude themselves will be able to register through one statewide system covering hotels and clubs with gaming machines. It will replace the current approach, where venues manage voluntary exclusion arrangements individually.
Mandatory facial recognition will support the register from 2028, helping venues identify excluded people and enforce exclusions. The system will also assist NSW Police in efforts to prevent money laundering and other criminal activity involving gaming machines.
A third-party exclusion scheme for hotels and clubs will also be introduced.
Gaming Machine Entitlements Face Tighter Limits
NSW has about 87,000 poker machines across roughly 2,100 clubs and hotels. The reforms will increase the forfeiture rate on traded gaming machine entitlements from one in three to one in two.
A new ‘sinking cap’ will lower the statewide limit as entitlements leave circulation. The government will also tighten exemptions allowing transfers without forfeiture and let venues cancel entitlements voluntarily.
VIP programmes associated with gaming will end.
Advertising Rules Will Tighten
Gambling advertising will be prohibited on NSW Government and council-owned assets. Betting providers will need express consent before sending direct marketing through calls, emails or text messages.
New transparency requirements will apply to promotions involving affiliates and social media influencers, while commissions linked to higher-risk gambling products will face restrictions.
The government will develop a state strategy to reduce online gambling harm and strengthen enforcement against illegal gambling platforms through new offences, tougher penalties and stronger regulatory powers.
Funding Supports Reform
NSW will upgrade its Centralised Monitoring System over the next two years to prepare for future account-based play, allowing people to use registered accounts when playing poker machines.
The government will invest $95.2 million over four years, funded through remaining money from the $100 million gambling harm minimisation fund and increased licence fees for clubs and hotels with gaming machines.
The Responsible Gambling Fund will receive an additional $20 million over two years to support harm-reduction services, including GambleAware.
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said: “The Minns Labor government is introducing wide-ranging reforms to help combat gambling harm across the state.
“These are common sense reforms that have been developed alongside industry, harm minimisation groups, stakeholders and privacy experts to address gambling harm while supporting the industry and protecting the livelihoods of the many people it employs.
“By combining new technology, stronger exclusion tools, strengthened regulation and increased funding for harm reduction, we are building a safer system for the future.
“Our government will continually explore and implement emerging technology to ensure NSW has the most up-to-date safety measures available built into our gambling industry.”
Source:
“Stronger protections in major NSW gambling reform”, nsw.gov.au, August 25, 2026
