Councillors have backed a campaign to tighten gambling laws after Novocastrians lost $52 million to poker machines in just the first quarter of 2026.
At a recent meeting, all but two councillors voted in support of Wesley Mission's campaign, 'Put Pokies in Their Place'.
Regulating pokies is a state government issue, but Greens deputy lord mayor Charlotte McCabe said the machines were addictive by design and it was often Newcastle's most vulnerable who lost.
"This is a campaign that is asking for five key reforms that are evidence-based reforms that have been called for by the Greens and by gambling harm reduction not-for-profits for a very long time," Cr McCabe said.
Wesley Mission is pushing for the NSW government to take action on the harm caused by poker machines and deliver on their commitments to strong gambling reform.
Wesley Mission's campaign pushes for mandatory cashless gaming cards, a nightly shutdown period, a statewide self-exclusion register, greater transparency with gambling data, and community input into placement of poker machines.
Independent councillor Peter Gittins and Liberal councillor Jenny Barrie questioned what authority Newcastle council had over businesses operating poker machines on Crown land.
Cr Barrie said poker machines were not the only form of gambling that caused harm in the community.
"Like the introduction of advertising on TV, encouraging people to gamble on sport. Are we going to take all the TVs out too?" Cr Barrie said.
"Should we be dictating to our licensed premises ... what they can and can't do in a business?"
The motion suggested using Newcastle's social inclusion grants to encourage clubs and hotels to reduce reliance on gaming revenue.
Social inclusion grants typically support programs and activities that strengthen social connection and inclusion within the local community.
Labor councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk argued councils should not use local resources on state government issues.
"Those grants are there to actually support the community and remain focused on community benefit," she said.
Labor councillor Deahnna Richardson felt the motion assumed the council had power to create change where it did not.
NSW accounts for just under half of the country's 200,000 poker machines, with 3000 of those in Newcastle.
Newcastle residents are on track to lose almost a quarter of a billion dollars in 2026 alone, Wesley Mission general manager Joel MacKay said in July.
The City of Newcastle has joined Tweed Shire, Wagga Wagga, Georges River, and Campbelltown councils in support of the 'Put Pokies in Their Place' campaign.
