Pokies: State of addiction

• Exclusive

Australians spend millions playing the pokies on their phone but they’ll never win a cent

Unregulated, simulated casino games prove lucrative for developers, but experts fear they are breeding future problem gamblers.

• James Lemon

‘May as well do nothing’: Buyback of 2000 pokie machines ‘won’t cut it’

Experts warn gaming policies will be redundant without mothballing more poker machines and the introduction of reduced operating hours.

• Lucy Cormack

• Exclusive

Perrottet’s poker machine revolution passes snap meeting of cabinet

All poker machines in the state would be cashless within five years under a raft of measures in the Coalition’s new gambling reform package.

• Alexandra Smith

• Exclusive

Perrottet moves to ban club donations in blow to gaming industry

Banning donations from clubs with poker machines would prove a significant blow to the influence of the gaming industry on Macquarie Street.

• Tom Rabe and Lucy Cormack

How league clubs grew ‘fat, dumb and happy’ on poker machines

Rugby league wasn’t founded on pokie revenue, but it has flourished off the back of it. Now, the decades-old business model is being challenged by modern economics and a dose of ethics.

• Jordan Baker

‘A boil on our industry’: Why this publican banned pokies at his Sydney venues

James Thorpe, who owns three inner Sydney pubs, says the industry’s reliance on gaming revenue is hurting the Sydney food and beverage scene.

• Lucy Cormack

Club ads under fire after poker machine profits revealed

Clubs are being criticised over an advertising blitz that highlights their community role after ClubsNSW conceded some venues are given taxpayer-funded compensation.

• Ben Cubby

• Exclusive

Gone in 92 days: Gamblers lose $2.1 billion on poker machines

Critics labelled the $2.1 billion loss – the highest in NSW history – an obscenity that reinforces the need for reform.

• Lucy Cormack and Ben Cubby

• Exclusive

Nationals stalwart urges party to back poker machine reforms

Former deputy prime minister John Anderson has rubbished claims that regional communities will suffer if cashless gaming cards are made mandatory.

• Lucy Cormack and Tom Rabe

• Exclusive

Banks ready to implement cashless gaming solution as brawl over cards heats up

Banking executive Anna Bligh says the industry would assist in the rollout of cashless gaming, adding it was aware of the harm caused by problem gambling.

• Lucy Cormack and Tom Rabe

NSW Labor pledges to cut pokies as gambling reform debate ignites

Opposition Leader Chris Minns has vowed to enforce a mandatory cashless gaming trial on hundreds of machines in pubs and clubs.

• Tom Rabe and Lucy Cormack

• Exclusive

Club industry claim that punters prefer cash labelled ‘absurd’

Cashless gaming is untested, but researchers suggest punters will be quick to adapt. But ClubsNSW says the proposal will only punish recreational gamblers.

• Anna Patty

• Exclusive

Gambling whistleblower to take on Labor’s Chris Minns at state election

Anti-pokies independent Troy Stolz is mounting a challenge in the marginal seat of Kogarah, saying the NSW Labor leader “is in the pocket of pubs and clubs”.

• Alexandra Smith

‘VIP Lounge’ pokies signs outside pubs may breach City of Sydney rules

The council said flashing signs advertising gaming rooms were installed without consent and may be removed.

• Michael Koziol

• Exclusive

Elliott will stay out of pokies debate because son works for gaming giant

The senior NSW frontbencher has told Premier Dominic Perrottet he will excuse himself from cabinet discussions on cashless gaming.

• Alexandra Smith

• Exclusive

Howard backs Perrottet’s poker machine reforms

Dominic Perrottet’s push to reform NSW’s gambling industry has won the high-profile endorsement of former prime minister John Howard, who says the premier’s policy is “courageous and wise”.

• Alexandra Smith

• Opinion

Pokies and porkies: five myths about clubs and their ‘political power’

NSW clubs claim to hold huge political power, to be a critical source of state revenue, and to do much to support local communities. These do not stand up to scrutiny.

• Betty Con Walker

Cashless gaming card will include spending limits, Perrottet says

The premier will face difficulties shepherding the reforms through his cabinet, with a senior minister saying the changes will push problem gambling elsewhere.

• Alexandra Smith

• Exclusive

‘Systemic non-compliance’: Blitz on pubs reveals gaming law breaches

A blitz of 300 venues by Liquor and Gaming NSW revealed 50 breaches of gaming laws, including putting ATMs inside gaming rooms.

• Harriet Alexander

• Exclusive

‘A no-brainer’: Unions NSW joins Perrottet’s cashless pokies push

The peak union body has backed the NSW premier’s cashless gaming card, warning poker machines are “taking billions from workers’ pockets”.

• Alexandra Smith

• Exclusive

Spike in pubs and clubs seeking approval for poker machines to be played later

The revelation from the NSW gaming regulator comes as new data reveals venues with late-night trading hours almost double their pokie profits.

• Alexandra Smith

• Exclusive

RSL clubs call on members to speak up against cashless gaming

The peak body representing the state’s RSL clubs says the “powers that be” need to be warned against the unintended consequences of a cashless gaming card.

• Alexandra Smith

• Analysis

The publicans with the most to lose from gambling reform

The most lucrative pubs in NSW in terms of net profit per machine are concentrated in the hands of a few key players.

• Harriet Alexander

• Exclusive

Star Entertainment urges NSW pubs and clubs to back cashless gaming

Star Entertainment Group has called on NSW pubs and clubs to support NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet’s plan to transition the industry to cashless gaming.

• Amelia McGuire

• Analysis

Taxing ‘misery’: Pokies and the NSW budget

The premier might have qualms about it, but gaming machine revenue is on the rise.

• Matt Wade

‘An outrageous loophole’: Stokes calls for end to clubs’ political donations

The senior NSW minister says it is unacceptable that registered clubs can donate to political parties despite gambling companies being deemed prohibited donors.

• Alexandra Smith

• Exclusive

Charities wrongly named in call opposing cashless gaming card

Leading charities, including World Vision and Oxfam, have distanced themselves after being named without their knowledge in a robocall opposing cashless gaming.

• Lucy Cormack

• Exclusive

Health workers’ union backs cashless gaming as mysterious robo-call questioned

A second union is now backing NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet on introducing cashless pokies, with an official saying health workers face the real-world impacts of problem gambling.

• Lucy Cormack and Tom Rabe

Listen: Mysterious robo-calls deployed by pokie reform opponents in new tactic

The phone survey asserts that clubs and pubs “will be made to spend millions” on NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet’s proposed reform.

• Lucy Cormack

‘Not going to be threatened’: Perrottet stares down ClubsNSW scare campaign

NSW’s powerful clubs lobby group has launched its first major pre-election offensive since it waged war against the Gillard government a decade ago.

• Natassia Chrysanthos and Tom Rabe

• Exclusive

Minns and Perrottet should join forces to take on clubs lobby, say Greens

The NSW Labor leader and state premier are being urged to work together to counter ClubsNSW’s opposition to gaming reforms.

• Alexandra Smith

Perrottet vows to stop people’s life savings being ‘thrown down pokies’

The NSW Premier says impending reform of the state’s lucrative gambling industry is non-negotiable regardless of the political ramifications.

• Tom Rabe

Minns ‘prepared to deal with the judgment of the voters of NSW’ on pokies stance

NSW Labor leader Chris Minns says he is prepared to reform the gambling sector but only after the impact on the industry is fully calculated.

• Tom Rabe