Crown Sydney Banned from Operating Poker Machines

The New South Wales (NSW) government has confirmed it will not lift the ban on poker machines at Crown Sydney, solidifying its ongoing commitment to stricter gambling regulations and consumer protection. Despite sustained lobbying by Crown Resorts, the restriction remains—a move seen as a major win for anti-gambling advocates and state lawmakers.

Government Firm on Long-Standing Ban

NSW Premier Chris Minns emphasized that the government would not support any legislation that could overturn the decade-old ban preventing poker machines at Crown’s Barangaroo site. The restriction was a key condition when the casino was first greenlit for construction on public land and has long been a political flashpoint.

“This is a legislative imposition that’s been in place for over a decade. It would require a government bill to knock over that restriction, and I’m not going to do it,”
– NSW Premier Chris Minns

Reports indicate that Crown Resorts had ramped up efforts to sway lawmakers to revise the rule, but no members of Parliament have shown interest in sponsoring such a bill. The rejection of these lobbying efforts signals the government’s intent to keep the restriction in place indefinitely.

Rebuilding After Past Failures

Crown’s Barangaroo complex was originally conceived as a premium, high-roller table-only casino. However, a 2021 public inquiry exposed serious failings, including anti-money-laundering breaches, forcing the company to undergo a three-year compliance overhaul. While the venue has since reopened with stricter controls, poker machines remain off the table—literally and legally.

Public Support for Regulation

Independent MP Alex Greenwich, representing parts of central Sydney, applauded the government’s stance, stating that any move to permit poker machines at Crown would “betray public trust.” He also pointed to a recent NSW Auditor-General report that criticized regulators for inadequate enforcement of harm-reduction policies.

“With gambling harm on the rise, we need fewer venues with large poker machine floors, not new ones right on the harbour,”
– MP Alex Greenwich

The decision dovetails with broader gambling reforms in NSW, including proposed caps on cash limits in casinos—from AUD 5,000 to AUD 1,000—and tighter controls to prevent criminal infiltration and money laundering. Law enforcement has also increased its crackdown on illegal gambling, shutting down five unlawful operations in the past year alone.

Missed Opportunity for Crown

While Crown Sydney will continue operating as a table-game-only facility, the inability to add poker machines is a significant financial blow. In the 2023–24 financial year, NSW poker machine profits soared to AUD 8.4 billion ($5.44 billion)—a stream Crown is now excluded from tapping into.

Although future lobbying efforts could resurface, for now, Crown’s poker machine ambitions are firmly off the table—a clear sign that the NSW government prioritizes public welfare over corporate pressure.