Pokies continue to inflict significant harm on individuals, families, and communities across South Australia. They continue to destroy lives and cost billions of dollars1. Last financial year, South Australians lost over $1 billion to pokies for the first time, an increase in $50 million from the previous year2. Since they were introduced in SA just over 30 years ago, South Australians have lost a staggering $20 billion at the pokies.
The Greens have a comprehensive plan to phase out pokies in South Australia by 2030. Our state can prosper without continuing to use pokies as a revenue measure. We can prioritise the health and happiness of South Australians over the profits of the gambling industry.
The South Australian Greens are committed to building a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable future for our state. The Greens believe that it is wrong for the state to continue to rely on an industry that causes significant harm to its citizens3. South Australia can prosper without revenue from pokies.
The Greens will:
- Phase out pokies in pubs and clubs by 2030
- Set up a fund to support clubs and pubs to transition away from relying on pokies profits
- Establish a moratorium on new machines
- Establish a licence buy-back scheme
1. https://www.gambleaware.org/media/4kzevoyu/families-living-with-problem-gambling.pdf
Explore Our Plan
- End our government’s addiction to gambling revenue
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Despite the immense social costs, pokies remain a significant source of revenue for the state government, which means they have a perceived benefit to the state coffers. Although the Labor and Liberal parties are no longer allowed to take donations from gambling companies, both parties refuse to phase out pokies.
It’s misleading when state governments and hotels and clubs make claims that they need pokies revenue to survive. In Western Australia, poker machines are restricted to the Perth casino only. Here, local clubs and pubs continue to thrive despite not being able to generate profits from poker machines. These attract people through hospitality, offering food and beverage services, and hosting events like live music and sports. Some clubs invest in non-gambling activities and provide facilities like gyms or tennis courts and play equipment for children. This provides a more family friendly and health-focused lifestyle for customers.
Unlike other states, most pokies licences in South Australia are owned by hotels, which account for 93 per cent of licences or more than 15,200 of the 16,400 gaming machines. This compares to about 25 per cent in New South Wales and 20 per cent in Victoria.
The Labor Government have forward projected that state coffers will take $2.7 billion in gambling revenue over the next four years4. However, this revenue comes at a steep price. The financial stress caused by gambling addiction can lead to family breakdown, job loss, depression and suicide.
4. https://www.treasury.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/1159383/2025-26-Budget-Statement.pdf
- Transition fund for venues
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To assist pubs and clubs with this new way of operating, the Greens will provide a transitional fund of $400 million over the next 4 years to assist pubs and clubs that want to phase out their poker machines earlier. This fund can be used to establish new revenue streams, whether that is investing in live music equipment, better kitchen facilities, play area for families, or a marketing campaign to better promote their venue.
- Moratorium on new machines
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The Greens are calling for an end to pokies in South Australia by placing a moratorium on new machines and setting a goal to phase out all poker machines in pubs and clubs over the next 4 years.
Pokies are the leading cause of gambling harm in our community, with 72 per cent of adults seeking support from gambling help services identifying pokies as the main source of their distress5.
5. https://gamblingharmsupport.sa.gov.au/understanding-gambling/gambling-facts-and-myths/pokies
- Licence buyback scheme
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The Greens will appoint an independent commission to develop a pokies licence buyback scheme over the next 7 years to facilitate a phase-out of pokies at pubs and clubs and consider options for replacing potential revenue lost. The panel will be funded to investigate, model and enact a flat 65% tax on all gaming machines, and raise the Betting Operations Tax more generally to 30%.