Gambling reforms will take time to see an effect, the NSW government says, amid a rise in poker machines across the state and steady profits for club and pub owners.
Half-yearly poker machine figures show profits across NSW hotels and clubs hit $3.92 billion in the period from December to June this year.
Representing gambling losses of about $22 million a day, it's slightly up on the same period last year but is down on the $4.26 billion lost in the second half of 2022.
Other data to October showed the number of machines in operation across NSW has been rising steadily - up 764 to 87,423 since June 2022.
Wesley Mission chief executive Stu Cameron poker machine numbers had been heading down since 2019 and the reversal in that trend was "disturbing".
“It’s highly likely this is the industry seeking to bolster their position in a window before potential reforms are introduced," he said.
Labor won the March election on a platform that included a pledge to reduce poker machine numbers, including an immediate cut to the entitlement cap across the state.
Its policies also included a higher forfeiture rate when pokies were traded, requiring one machine entitlement to be given up for every two sold.
But it was criticised for not matching the coalition's promise to introduce mandatory cashless gaming cards across the state, instead opting for a 12-month trial of the technology across 500 machines.
Mr Cameron said the scale of the pokie losses highlighted the need to introduce immediate reforms to minimise the impact on families amid a cost of living crisis.
"Given this ongoing upward trajectory of tragedy and increasing levels of gambling harm, NSW remains in the grip of a growing public health crisis," he said.
A spokeswoman for Gaming Minister David Harris said Labor was committed to gaming reform, reducing gambling harm and preventing money laundering.
The September state budget included $100 million in harm minimisation initiatives including problem gambling support and, to prevent harm occurring in the first place, education and awareness raising.
"We know there is no single solution to address harms from gambling, which is why we are implementing a range of gambling reforms that will take time to see an effect," the spokeswoman told AAP on Friday.
"One of our key election commitments was to reduce the number of gaming machines in NSW.
"We have already done this, by lowering the state cap on gaming machine entitlements by more than 3000."
Wesley Mission is among several harm minimisation organisations involved in the development of Labor's cashless gaming trial.
"We want to ensure a balanced, evidence-based approach that supports our vibrant hospitality industry in NSW while also protecting our community," the spokeswoman said.
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