Two south coast regions have recorded some of the highest poker machine losses in the state, with gamblers tipping in a combined $160 million into local Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs) in just six months.
Data from gambling regulator Liquor and Gaming NSW reveals Wollongong and Shoalhaven lost a combined $79.4m to EGMs in the May quarter of 2026 alone, placing them in the top six LGAs in the state.
Gamblers in Wollongong poured a total of $52.8m into the city’s 2,707 poker machines between March and May – second only to the Central Coast, where punters lost a staggering $87.9m over the same period.
Shoalhaven, which placed sixth, sacrificed more than $26.6m. The Shoalhaven LGA has 1652 EGMs across 36 licenced premises.
Other south coast LGAs were also hit hard over the quarter: Shellharbour, with a population of just 76,000, lost $13.6m – equivalent to approximately $177 for every man, woman and child in the region – despite having only 6 licensed gaming venues.
Eurobodalla came in 17th, with losses of just under $12m.
Wesley Central Mission’s Rev Stu Cameron said the numbers are breathtaking.
“The only people that are happy about these figures are fat-cat pub barons, and clubs that are just raking in the dollars,” he said.
“The industry has perfected taking money from punters and transferring it to ever larger clubs.
“It’s inequitable, it’s unjust and it’s causing rampant harms in our suburbs, in our towns and in our cities.”
