Record losses as state poker machine numbers on the rise
Gambling figures
Poker machines players in Queensland lost close to a staggering $4.1 billion last financial year, up 8.6 per cent, or $324m, from 2024/5.
Alliance for Gambling Reform chief executive Martin Thomas said the companies that make the machines create them to be highly addictive, so we need our governments to protect us better from losing our money.
“The failure of the Queensland Government to properly regulate poker machines, even allowing more machines in some cases, is causing gambling harm at record levels,” Mr Thomas said.
As of June, there were about 40,720 poker machines in Queensland venues, up more than 300 from about 40,400 in June 2025.
State Government changes to pokie-licence rules in April 2025 allowed for bigger pubs and clubs to join up with smaller regional venues to enable them to bring in more poker machines to those spaces.
Gambling-reform advocates warned at the time that Queenslanders may end up losing even more money on pokies than ever before.
“Far North Queensland is experiencing record losses to gambling machines and this reflects what is happening all along the east coast of Australia,” Mr Thomas said this week.
“Poker machines are still the most damaging form of gambling in Australia - we lose more than $17 billion every year on poker machines.
“We need shorter operating hours and most importantly we need a mandatory carded play with precommitment.
“This means you need to register to play (reducing the risk of money laundering) and you set a limit on how much you want to lose BEFORE you play.
“This is essential.”
After the pokie-law reforms took place in 2025, State Government Attorney-General Deb Frecklington called the change a “big win for smaller community clubs”.
Clubs which are licensed to operate multiple premises are now allowed to increase gaming machines across their sites, allowing larger clubs to throw a lifeline to smaller clubs, Ms Frecklington said.
“The change will support regional Queensland clubs struggling in a tough operating environment to remain open, by merging with larger clubs,” she said.
“Sadly, many Queensland clubs have been struggling, with an average of 12 shutting down each year over the past decade,” she said.
Even though there are now more poker machines in the state, there are still less venues - in June there were 1020, while there were 1027 at the same time last year.
Australians incur the world's worst gambling losses on a per capita basis of $31 billion per year and growing.
