Surging pokies revenue proves NSW Labor has failed to reduce gambling harm as promised, advocates say

Annual gambling tax revenue will rise to $4.9bn by 2030, the NSW state budget forecast. Photograph: Blake Sharp-Wiggins/The Guardian

Anti-gambling advocates say surging tax revenue from poker machines in New South Wales is a betrayal of the Minns government’s promise to reform the industry.

Tuesday’s state budget forecasts the annual revenue from all gambling taxes will rise from $3.8bn in 2025-26 to $4.7bn by 2029-30. That includes an annual rise in revenue from poker machines in pubs and hotels of 7.5%, outstripping inflation, meaning the government expects to pocket $2.2bn from pokies in 2029-30 compared with $1.6bn this financial year.