Does Western Australia Have Pokies?

Exploring the Role and Regulation of Pokies in Western Australia

Pokies—short for poker machines, also known as electronic gaming machines (EGMs)—are a central part of Australian gambling culture. They are widely used for recreational gambling and have become ingrained in social activities, especially in pubs and clubs across most of the country. The primary focus here is: *does Western Australia have pokies?*

Gambling is a significant activity in Australia, with 72.8% of adults participating in some form over the past year. Pokies are particularly popular; about 39.3% of regular pokies gamblers reported that pokies were their first experience with real-money gambling, underscoring their cultural significance. Gambling is recognized as a major public health issue due to its associated harms, such as addiction, financial problems, and negative impacts on families and communities.

Western Australia (WA) stands out from the rest of the country due to its strict regulatory stance on pokies. Unlike other Australian states and territories, WA allows electronic gaming machines to operate only at the Crown Perth casino, and bans them from all other pubs and clubs. This unique approach aims to minimize the availability and social impact of pokies, a policy maintained since their initial regulation. WA governments have consistently resisted pressure to expand pokies outside the casino environment, citing concerns about public health and social wellbeing.

Pokies are not freely available in Western Australia. They cannot be found in local pubs or clubs as in the rest of the country; instead, EGMs are restricted exclusively to the Crown Perth casino. In contrast, all other Australian states and territories permit pokies in a broad range of venues, such as clubs and hotels, with thousands of machines operating and generating substantial player losses each year. WA’s unique restriction sets it apart nationally, with the rest of the country having 93% of pokies located in pubs and clubs, while WA is described as an "anomaly" for its tighter controls.

Due to the restrictions, revenue generated from pokies in WA is significantly lower than in other states. The state’s expenditure on gambling is the lowest in Australia, and as a result, WA does not rely on widespread pokies revenue to the same extent as other jurisdictions. While the Crown Perth casino does generate some gambling revenue for the state, the broader economic reliance on pokies taxation is far less pronounced in WA compared to states like Victoria or New South Wales, where public budgets are more directly supplemented by gambling taxes.