Entitled ‘The Impact of Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) Late Night Play on EGM Player Behaviours’, the study looked at late-night players who gambled on pokies machines.

The report found that people with gambling problems represented the majority of late-night poker machine players. It also flagged how two thirds of people playing between 2am and 8am experienced “significant” negative consequences.

The NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) said it would use the research to guide future decisions on rules and regulations for late-night play. 

Minimise gambling harm

“As part of our statutory obligation to minimise gaming related harm, ILGA will make use of the study’s conclusions to inform future decisions,” ILGA chairperson Caroline Lamb said.

“ILGA has implemented a number of measures to minimise gambling harm and address concerns about applications that increase the availability of gaming machines after midnight. 

“We have developed Guideline 16 to help gaming venues reduce gambling harm after midnight and foster the responsible conduct of gambling.  

“This includes a preference that all gaming related applications are required to be accompanied by a Gaming Plan of Management that contains a raft of measures designed to support licensees to minimise gambling relating harm in venues.  

“ILGA also imposes licence conditions on gaming-related applications to mitigate risk of gambling-related harm.”  

The study was funded by the NSW Government’s Responsible Gambling Fund, with support from Liquor & Gaming NSW, and conducted by Roy Morgan Research.