Community & places · Cumberland Council
Cumberland motion cites $488m in gaming-machine losses as council requests policy draft
Councillors carried a motion to have the general manager develop a draft harm-minimisation policy with clubs and community groups. The motion does not adopt new controls.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
According to the unconfirmed minutes, Cumberland Council has asked its general manager to prepare a draft gambling harm minimisation policy after citing approximately $488 million in profit generated by gaming machines in local clubs and hotels in 2023 - 24, described in the motion as the best available measure of player losses.
The motion, recorded as carried at the council’s 28 October 2026 meeting, records Cumberland as having the third-highest gaming-machine losses of any Greater Sydney local government area, behind Canterbury-Bankstown and Fairfield. It also cites the NSW Audit Office’s finding that Cumberland was among the three most socio-economically disadvantaged local government areas in Greater Sydney and had a particularly high concentration of gaming machines.
The requested draft is to be prepared in consultation with clubs and community groups and brought back to council for consideration. Its stated objective is to establish a practical framework through which council can contribute to reducing gambling-related harm in the Cumberland community.
The resolution recognises that harm can extend beyond financial losses, including financial hardship, relationship difficulties and psychological distress. It also acknowledges that primary responsibility for regulating gambling and gaming machines rests with the NSW Government and relevant state authorities.
That leaves the scope of any future council action unresolved. The minutes do not specify what measures the draft policy will contain, how people affected by gambling harm will be consulted, or when the draft will return to council.
The motion was recorded as carried with no votes against. Councillor Helen Hughes declared an interest because she is a member of a licensed club and was recorded as leaving during consideration of the item. Councillor Paul Garrard declared an interest as a board member of Merrylands RSL; the declarations section states that he would remain in the chamber.
What deserves a closer look
The recorded resolution requests policy development but does not adopt a final policy, impose new gambling controls or establish a service.
The practical scope of any future policy is unresolved because the resolution recognises state regulatory responsibility but does not list proposed council measures.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What measures will the draft policy propose within council's legal and operational responsibilities?
How will clubs, community groups and people affected by gambling harm be consulted?
When will the general manager return the draft policy to council?
Will the draft include funding or evaluation measures?
What happens next
The resolution requests that the general manager prepare a draft Gambling Harm Minimisation Policy in consultation with clubs and community groups for consideration by council.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The council requested a draft Gambling Harm Minimisation Policy in consultation with clubs and community groups for council consideration, and the motion was declared carried.
and 4. Requests that the General Manager prepare a draft Gambling Harm Minimisation Policy in consultation with clubs and community groups for consideration by Council, with the objective of establishing a practical framework through which Council can contribute to reducing gambling-related harm within the Cumberland community. The Motion on being Put was declared CARRIED. Council Meeting 28 October 2026 Page 13 Councillor(s) For the Motion: Christou, Colman, Elmore, Garrard, Hamed, Kafrouni-Saba, Rahme, Saha, Sarkis, Selventhiran, Yang and Zaiter.
Min.1222 C10/26-129
Open original minutes ↗The motion cites NSW Audit Office findings that gaming machines in Cumberland clubs and hotels generated approximately $488 million in profit in 2023–24, described as the best available measure of player losses. It records Cumberland as third among Greater Sydney local government areas for gaming-machine losses, behind Canterbury-Bankstown and Fairfield, and among the three most socio-economically disadvantaged, with a particularly high concentration of gaming machines.
Notes the findings of the NSW Audit Office's Regulation of Gaming Machines report, published in June 2025, including that: a. gaming machines in clubs and hotels within the Cumberland Local Government Area generated approximately $488 million in gaming machine profit in 2023–24, representing the best available measure of player losses; b. Cumberland recorded the third-highest gaming machine losses of any Local Government Area in Greater Sydney, behind Canterbury-Bankstown and Fairfield; and c. Cumberland was identified as one of the three most socio-economically disadvantaged Local Government Areas in Greater Sydney and as an area with a particularly high concentration of gaming machines.
C10/26-129
Open original minutes ↗The motion recognises that primary responsibility for gambling and gaming-machine regulation rests with the NSW Government and relevant state regulatory authorities, and says any council policy should focus on council's legitimate roles and responsibilities.
3. Recognises that primary responsibility for the regulation of gambling and gaming machines rests with the NSW Government and relevant State regulatory authorities, and that any Council policy should focus on matters that fall within Council's legitimate roles and responsibilities;
C10/26-129
Open original minutes ↗The motion recognises that gambling harm can extend beyond financial losses, including financial hardship, relationship difficulties and psychological distress.
2. Recognises that gambling harm can extend beyond financial losses and may adversely affect individuals, families and the broader community, including through financial hardship, relationship difficulties, psychological distress and other social and economic impacts.
C10/26-129
Open original minutes ↗The declarations section records Councillor Hughes's interest in the gambling-policy and community-grants items as a licensed-club member and states that she would leave the chamber. It records Councillor Garrard's interest in those items as a Merrylands RSL board member and states that he would remain.
He will remain in the Chamber during the consideration of this item. Councillor Hughes declared a Less than Significant, Non-Pecuniary interest in relation to items C10/26-129 Notice of Motion - Development of a Gambling Harm Minimisation Policy and C10/26-140 Community Grants - Round 1 2026/2027 Funding Recommendations as she is a member of a licensed club. She will remove herself from the Chamber during the consideration of this item. Councillor Garrard declared a Less than Significant, Non-Pecuniary interest in relation to items C10/26-129 Notice of Motion - Development of a Gambling Harm Minimisation Policy and C10/26-140 Community Grants - Round 1 2026/2027 Funding Recommendations as he is a board member of Merrylands RSL. He will remain in the Chamber during the consideration of this item. Note: At this point of the meeting, the General Manager confidentially tabled the Annual Disclosure of Interest Returns, in accordance with requirements under Clause 4.25 of the Code of Conduct.
Declarations of Pecuniary & Non Pecuniary Conflicts of Interest
Open original minutes ↗The minutes declare the motion carried, list no votes against and record Councillor Hughes leaving during consideration of the item.
The Motion on being Put was declared CARRIED. Council Meeting 28 October 2026 Page 13 Councillor(s) For the Motion: Christou, Colman, Elmore, Garrard, Hamed, Kafrouni-Saba, Rahme, Saha, Sarkis, Selventhiran, Yang and Zaiter. Councillor(s) Against the Motion: Nil. Councillor Christou returned to the Meeting at 10:12pm during the consideration of this item. Councillor Hughes left the Meeting at 10:18pm during the consideration of this item.
Min.1222 C10/26-129
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Cumberland Council, minutes of the Council meeting held on 28 October 2026. The supplied record does not establish that these minutes have been confirmed. This article reports from the minutes and does not independently verify events or the figures cited in them.
Key facts from the minutes
- The minutes record the motion as carried at Cumberland Council’s 28 October 2026 meeting.
- The motion cites NSW Audit Office findings that gaming machines in Cumberland clubs and hotels generated approximately $488 million in profit in 2023 - 24, described as the best available measure of player losses.
- Cumberland was recorded as having the third-highest gaming-machine losses among Greater Sydney local government areas.
- The general manager was asked to prepare a draft gambling harm minimisation policy in consultation with clubs and community groups.
- The motion acknowledged that primary responsibility for gambling regulation rests with the NSW Government and relevant state authorities.
- The minutes provide no deadline for the draft policy’s return.
Why it matters
- The council has requested work on a local gambling-harm policy, but the immediate resolution calls for drafting and consultation rather than adopting new gambling restrictions or services. Its eventual effect will depend on the measures proposed within council’s responsibilities.