Moves to strictly limit retail trade on Anzac Day are unlikely to be extended to electronic gaming in Australia's pokies capital.
The proposal has been dismissed by the NSW premier after independent MP Alex Greenwich put forward a plan to shut poker-machine rooms in casinos, pubs and clubs on April 25.
The Sydney MP's amendment is riding the government's bill to introduce some of the nation's most restrictive rules around retail trade, to end what Premier Chris Minns has called the "creeping commercialism" of the date honouring diggers.
Preventing pokies operating on Anzac Day has support from anti-gambling advocates and several crossbench MPs, but the premier on Tuesday said people had traditionally bet on the date and it was a matter of personal choice.
"I completely acknowledge people have concerns about widespread, ubiquitous use of poker machines," Mr Minns said.
"Even if we did close down other forms of gambling on the day, two-up is still legal in NSW ... I'm not saying this is perfect, but I think that this is a commonsense decision."
The amendment, which is expected to be rejected by Labor and the opposition, would exempt betting on traditional Anzac Day two-up games.
It follows the announcement in July retail trade would be restricted to only businesses such as cafes, restaurants and chemists in NSW on April 25 from 2025 onwards.
Mr Greenwich said clubs and pubs would become some of the only venues left open on Anzac Day across the state.
"(If) you can't do your grocery shopping that day, but you can put your grocery money down a poker machine in a club or a pub, that's a great concern," he said.
Mr Greenwich said he had not received a clear reason for the lack of support from the major parties, accusing Labor of being a party that "loves gambling" while the coalition had lost its courage for reform after the election.
"I, along with my crossbench colleagues, will look to any opportunity to raise the issues of problem gambling and try to curb the damage," he said.
Shadow treasurer Damien Tudehope said the opposition would support the changes to retail trade, but he dismissed Mr Greenwich's anti-pokies push as a "stunt".
Wesley Mission chief executive Stu Cameron said powering down pokies on Anzac Day was a small price to pay.
"It means that on this one day, this one day of the year, poker machines are closed down out of respect and to honour veterans and the sacrifice they've made," he said.
NSW has among the highest per-capita concentration of poker machines in the world, with gambling losses for 2023 hitting a record $8.1 billion.
Labor has launched a cashless gaming trial as part of its anti-pokie measures but has faced criticism for stopping short of the former coalition government's election pledge of a mandatory cashless system.
A NSW Crime Commission report earlier found criminals were funnelling billions in "dirty" cash through poker machines in pubs and clubs with few controls.
Lifeline 13 11 14
Open Arms 1800 011 046
