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Luke Costin

Daily pokies losses in NSW hit $23.7m

New data shows daily losses on NSW pokies increased to $23.7 million in the September quarter (Paul Jeffers/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Gamblers are losing almost $1 million every hour on NSW pokies, new data reveals.

Data released to Wesley Mission showed daily losses increased to $23.7 million in the September quarter, up 11 per cent on previous figures.

Wesley Mission CEO and gambling reform advocate Rev Stu Cameron said the losses were obscene and cemented the need for real and urgent reforms.

"More than $2 billion lost to pokies in just three months is unthinkable when people are struggling with escalating food, fuel and energy prices," he said.

"People experiencing financial hardship can be drawn into gambling, hoping for a win to afford groceries and pay the rent.

"However, any hope is an illusion, and the predatory pokies industry is positioned in every town and suburb to take advantage of people who may be vulnerable."

Mr Cameron called for data on NSW's 86,500 poker machines to be transparently published by venue at least every six months.

Liquor and Gaming NSW publishes biannual data on customer losses, taxes and pokies by local government area.

But profits made in each venue aren't identified.

"If we know which venues in each LGA are draining the most money from customers, we can begin to develop effective responses," Mr Cameron said.

"Victoria is already doing it, which means they can see where the harm is happening. It's time we shone a light on gambling harm in NSW."

The new data will further pressure Premier Dominic Perrottet to release his proposal for a statewide mandatory cashless gaming card.

While promising it will happen, the premier says he will wait for a formal response to a Crime Commission report that exposed how billions of dollars in crime proceeds flow through pokies each year.

Some members of the Perrottet government, including the Nationals party, have baulked at mandating the cashless card.

Opposition Leader Chris Minns has promised a cashless card trial on 500 machines, while slashing the number of machines statewide.

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