Changes aim to curb gambling harm by ending long-standing exemptions for pubs and clubs
Loopholes on borrowed time
New South Wales is tightening its grip on late-night pokie play. From 31 March 2026, pubs and clubs will no longer be able to rely on legacy exemptions that let them operate pokie machines during the state’s mandated shutdown hours of 4am to 10am.
Currently, more than 670 venues sidestep the shutdown by using one of three carve-outs—allowing shortened shutdowns for tourist-heavy locations, financially struggling venues, or those with a history of early opening. Those options are now being scrapped.
Minister: Time’s up for outdated rules
NSW Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris called the exemptions “no longer fit for purpose,” citing a recent review that uncovered how many of the existing approvals were outdated or poorly justified.
“Some of these hardship exemptions haven’t been reassessed in years,” Harris said. “We’re phasing out the old system and putting in a tougher, clearer process.”
Venues that still believe they deserve an exemption will have until March 2026 to make their case—under stricter, yet-to-be-revealed rules overseen by the state’s independent regulator.
Late-night gambling linked to higher harm
The shift is backed by state-funded research showing players are more vulnerable to gambling harm after midnight. The data also exposed how some venues claiming financial distress were pulling in massive pokie profits. Between June and November 2023, three clubs operating under hardship exemptions ranked in the top ten for gaming machine revenue.
The review labeled the hardship loophole as “no longer valid or relevant” and said the early-opening rule was far too generous.
What this means for players
For the average gambler, these changes mean fewer chances to lose money in the early hours—when judgment tends to be fuzzy and losses can spiral. While clubs may push back, the government seems intent on dialing back the round-the-clock access to pokies that’s been quietly available for decades.
Venues hoping to keep the flexibility will need to prove they truly meet the new criteria. Everyone else will have to power down the pokies by 4am—or finally call it a night.
