Pokies

The South Australian Nationals are committed to pokie reform.

Poker machines have been a scourge on our communities for far too long. In the 2024–25 financial year, losses to poker machines in South Australia exceeded $1 billion for the first time - with a disproportionate share coming from our poorest and most vulnerable communities. Losses in regional areas are particularly unacceptable, with $20 million lost in Whyalla alone.

During a cost-of-living crisis, the consequences are profound. Families go without food, struggle to pay rent and face devastating social and financial harm. A key driver of the problem is Australia’s outlier status: unlike most of the world, where poker machines are confined to dedicated casinos, Australia is home to 76 per cent of all non-casino poker machines worldwide. Easy access in everyday community venues fuels addiction and risky gambling.

Allowing poker machines in pubs and clubs is neither normal nor healthy. The SA Nationals recognise, however, that many of these venues currently rely on gaming revenue. We will therefore support a fair five-year transitional period to allow pubs and clubs to adjust their business models, backed by a mandatory buyback scheme for poker machine entitlements.

Western Australia has shown the way. Since prohibiting poker machines outside its Crown Casino in 1985, gambling losses have fallen dramatically and pubs and clubs have returned to being healthy, vibrant community spaces.

Policy Objectives

Protect vulnerable families and regional communities from the harms of gambling addiction.
Eliminate the $1 billion+ annual drain on South Australian households and redirect those resources toward food, rent and essential living costs.
Align South Australia with international and interstate best practice by confining poker machines to licensed casinos only.
Deliver a managed, fair transition that supports pubs and clubs while ending their reliance on poker machine revenue.

Legislative and Regulatory Commitments

If elected, SA Nationals MPs will advocate for and vote in support of legislation to:

Prohibit all poker machines outside of casinos after a five-year transitional period.
Introduce a mandatory buyback scheme for gaming machine entitlements, targeting the repurchase of 20 per cent of current entitlements annually over the five-year transition.

Support for Pubs and Clubs

The SA Nationals will ensure the transition is orderly and fair. The mandatory buyback scheme will provide financial certainty, giving venues time to rebuild sustainable business models based on hospitality, dining and community connection — not gambling losses.

This policy delivers a clear, enforceable pathway to healthier communities, stronger families and more vibrant regional towns. It sends a strong message: our people and our communities are too valuable to be sacrificed to poker machines.