Quarter 3 2025 poker machine los

Quarter 3 2025 poker machine loss data for NSW

Wesley Mission has undertaken this summary analysis based on data published by NSW Liquor and Gaming for the relevant reporting period.

Total Losses Q3 2025 (July-September): $2,451,648,234

· increase of 7.8% over previous quarter

· Increase of 8.8% over same quarter last Total losses Q2 2025: $2,273,997,658

Total losses Q3 2024: $2,253,418,112

Total Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs) Q3: 87,839 (decrease of 91 since Q2 2025, increase of 207 since Q3 2024)

Daily losses Q3 2025: $26,648,350 Hourly losses Q3 2025: $1,110,348

[Note: losses in NSW are seasonal. Historically, Q3 losses have been the highest per calendar year – in part this reflects the impact of a 92 day quarter for both venue types, but may also be impacted by tax returns or other financial drivers. More research is needed]

By venue type

Q3 2025	Net losses	# EGMs	# Premises	% of losses
Clubs	$1,356,275,895	65,326	991	55%
Hotels	$1,095,372,339	22,513	1,144	45%
Q3 2024
Clubs	$1,243,949,061	65,216	1,003	55%
Hotels	$1,009,469,051	22,416	1,156	45%

Q3 Comparison 2021-2025

Q3		2021 COVID	2022	2023	2024	2025
Clubs		$445,931,027	$1,213,389,879	$1,165,760,355	$1,243,949,061	$1,356,275,895
Hotels		$899,215	$964,559,258	$946,131,959	$1,009,469,051	$1,095,372,339
Total		$446,830,242	$2,177,949,137	$2,111,892,314	$2,253,418,112	$2,451,648,234
	+/- previous year		+387% (COVID)	-3%	+7%	+9%

Figure 1: Losses per quarter, with last of the COVID impact showing in Q1 2022. The dip for Q4 was very pronounced in 2022, followed by flatter than average loss figures for Q1 2023 and Q2 2023 – this may reflect the impact of the launch of the Wesley Mission campaign and the state election in March 2023.

Figure 1: Losses Q3 annually, showing dip after 2023 state election

1.1. LGA loss data

As an estimate, we divided the Q3 loss amount for an LGA (or LGA bundle) by the LGA population and multiplied by 4. This is an under-estimate. The resulting figure is for every person in the LGA, including all adults and children and so would be considerably higher if only the adult, active gambling population was considered.

There has been a slight change in order of LGAs since Q2 2025. Burwood/Strathfield still edge out Liverpool, despite far fewer machines, meaning all the venues in those LGAs are ensuring that their machines are used intensively. This can also be seen in the estimated loss per person figure.

Changes in the top 10 ranking LGAs are due to the changes in the way Liquor and Gaming bundle LGAs together if an LGA has fewer than 5 venues of a type (hotel or club). The bundling is not done the same way each quarter and may differ for hotels and clubs. This may give a false impression of increased losses in some areas. Venue by venue data (currently collected by NSW Liquor and Gaming but not released as it is in Victoria) would address this problem.

However, there are two notable and concerning results this quarter. The Central Coast has always lost significantly more through nearly double the number of machines as the second ranked regional LGA, Newcastle or Wollongong. However, those losses are now over $1million a day. The Central Coast ranks 6^th in the state for losses (metro and regional) and second in the state for machine numbers.

The losses per person for the LGA bundle of Berrigan, Edward River, Federation, Hay and Murray River (roughly equivalent to half the state electorate of Murray) are now estimated to be $3400 per person (including children).