The New South Wales government has reinforced its stance on gambling regulation, officially ruling out the installation of poker machines at Crown Sydney. This decision underscores the state’s commitment to consumer protection, as officials aim to prevent excessive gambling harm while maintaining oversight of the sector.
Legislative Efforts to Overturn the Ban Have Failed
Premier Chris Minns reaffirmed that his administration will not support any legislation to remove the long-standing restriction preventing Crown’s Barangaroo casino from featuring poker machines. The prohibition has been in place for over 10 years, forming part of the original conditions allowing the venue’s development on public land.
Reports suggest Crown Resorts actively lobbied MPs to revise this law, but no parliamentary members have shown interest in advancing such a bill. Minns’ firm opposition means the ban is unlikely to be lifted in the foreseeable future.
“This is a legislative imposition that’s been in place for over a decade. It would require a government bill to overturn that restriction, and I’m not going to do it.”
– NSW Premier Chris Minns
Crown Sydney was initially envisioned as an exclusive table-games casino, catering to high-rollers. However, the venue faced substantial setbacks after a 2021 public inquiry deemed Crown Resorts unfit to operate due to anti-money laundering breaches and compliance failures, leading to a three-year remediation process before gaming operations resumed.
NSW Government Strengthens Consumer Safeguards
MP Alex Greenwich, representing Sydney’s inner-city electorate, welcomed the government’s stance, stating that allowing poker machines at Crown would betray public trust. He also highlighted a critical Auditor-General report, which faulted regulators for inadequate enforcement of harm-reduction measures tied to poker machines.
“With gambling harm on the rise, we need fewer venues with large poker machine floors, not new ones right on the harbour.”
– MP Alex Greenwich
The NSW government’s decision aligns with wider gambling reforms, including lowering the maximum cash limit a gambler can bring into a casino from AUD 5,000 ($3,240) to AUD 1,000 ($650) and increasing anti-money laundering enforcement. Authorities have also intensified crackdowns on illegal gambling, shutting down five unlicensed operations last year.
Crown Resorts Faces Revenue Challenges Amid NSW Policies
With poker machines generating record profits of AUD 8.4 billion ($5.44 billion) in the 2023–24 financial year, Crown Sydney is missing out on a significant revenue stream by remaining table-games only. Although lobbying efforts may continue, the state government remains firm, ensuring Crown operates under strict regulatory guidelines for the foreseeable future.
