Wagga Wagga residents lose $18m in 3 months on pokies

Wagga Wagga residents in NSW have lost $18 million on poker machines in the first three months of 2026 and the city council wants action.

With losses on track to surpass the $72m mark by year’s end, council is backing a motion from Cr Jenny McKinnon for stronger state poker machine reform.

Cr McKinnon says they are sending a clear message that communities deserve stronger protection from gambling harm.

“The scale of poker machine losses in Wagga Wagga is simply too great to ignore,” she says.

“Almost $200,000 leaves our community every day through poker machines. That is money that could be helping families with the cost of living and supporting our local economy.”

She says she wants to see practical, evidence-based reforms to reduce harm and the city of almost 60,000 people join a growing movement for change.

Her motion calls for reforms such as mandatory cashless gaming, effective harm reduction measures, reduced operating hours, stronger self-exclusion programs, greater transparency of gambling losses and more funding for counselling and support services.

It also calls on council to write to the state premier, Gaming and Racing Minister and their state MP.

WESLEY MISION ON WAGGA WAGGA MOTION

Wesley Mission chief executive officer Reverend Stu Cameron welcomes the council’s move as a reflection of growing support for reform.

“Wagga Wagga City Council has sent a clear message that gambling losses on this scale are unacceptable,” he says in a press statement.

“Almost $200,000 is flowing out of this community every day through poker machines, causing harm that reaches far beyond the individual.”

Rev Cameron says that a push for reform is building across the state.

“Communities are calling for practical and proportionate reforms that reduce gambling harm. They are sending a clear message to decision-makers: put people first and put pokies in their place.”