The WA Model — Australia's Control Group
Understanding WA's gambling landscape requires holding two things simultaneously: the state has far lower gambling harm from EGMs than comparable jurisdictions, but it has not eliminated gambling harm. Lotteries, wagering and casino gaming all generate significant losses. WA's total gambling expenditure is estimated at approximately $2.8 billion annually — comparable on a per-capita basis to South Australia. The key difference is in the distribution of harm: without 19,000 pub pokies, the heavy concentration of losses in low-income communities that characterises NSW and Queensland simply does not exist in the same way.
WA vs Other States — By the Numbers
The impact of WA's no-pub-pokies policy is most visible in comparative data. Analysis published in The Conversation found that Australians lose 2.4 times more than Italians, 3 times more than New Zealanders, and nearly 10 times more than Americans on non-casino poker machines. WA is the closest thing Australia has to those lower-loss comparators.
| Metric | WA | NSW | VIC | QLD | NT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pub/club EGMs | 0 Best | 87,839 | 26,805 | 40,031 | ~1,900 |
| EGM losses per adult | Casino only Lowest | ~$978 Highest | ~$550 | ~$700 | Highest per capita nationally Risk |
| Gambling tax / state revenue | 0.9% Lowest | 6.9% | 5.9% | 7.5% | 12.1% Most dependent |
| Total gambling losses | ~$2.8B | ~$13.3B | $7.3B | $6.1B+ | ~$0.9B |
| Problem gambling indicators | Lower than states with pub pokies | High; concentrated in western Sydney | High; concentrated in outer suburbs | High; regional areas worst affected | Highest rate nationally |
Sources: QGSO 40th Edition; IBISWorld; state regulatory publications. WA comparisons are approximate.
WA Gambling Data by Product
Despite the absence of pub and club pokies, Western Australians still gamble across a range of products. The state's total gambling expenditure — estimated at approximately $2.8 billion annually — is driven by casino gaming, wagering and Lotterywest. The Gaming and Wagering Commission of Western Australia publishes annual reports but does not provide the product-level granularity of eastern state regulators.
| Product | Est. Annual Losses | Market Share | Regulator / Operator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crown Perth Casino (all gaming) | ~$900M–$1.2B | ~35–43% | GWC / Crown Resorts | Only licensed EGM venue; table games + 2,500 EGMs; $10 max bet on main floor |
| Lotteries (Lotterywest) | ~$650M+ | ~23% | Lotterywest (govt-owned) | WA's unique government-owned lottery; all profits returned to community grants |
| Racing & Sports Wagering | ~$700M+ | ~25% | GWC / Tabcorp TAB | 10% POCT rate; one of the lower rates nationally |
| Keno | ~$200M | ~7% | The Lottery Corporation | Available in hospitality venues; fast-draw format |
| Total (all products) | ~$2.8B | 100% | GWC / Multiple | Lowest absolute total of any mainland state; 0.9% of state revenue |
Sources: QGSO 40th Edition; GWC Annual Reports; estimated from available data. Casino figure includes both table game and EGM losses at Crown Perth.
Estimated WA gambling losses by product, AUD millions (~2022–23). No pub/club EGM bar confirms WA's uniqueness nationally.
Crown Perth — The State's Only Casino
Crown Perth (Burswood)
Burswood, Perth · Opened 1985 · Owned by Crown Resorts (Blackstone) · WA's sole licensed casino
Crown Perth — formally known as Burswood — is the only venue in Western Australia where poker machines are legally permitted. Its 2,500 EGMs are supplemented by up to 350 approved table games including baccarat, blackjack, roulette, poker variants, pai gow, sic bo and money wheel. The casino complex at Burswood also includes hotels, restaurants, a theatre and the Optus Stadium precinct nearby.
Like its Melbourne and Sydney counterparts, Crown Perth has faced significant regulatory scrutiny following the Perth Casino Royal Commission in 2021. In July 2023, the Gaming and Wagering Commission directed the casino to introduce a $10 maximum bet limit on all EGMs on the main gaming floor — one of the most restrictive machine configurations of any Australian casino. Carded play with mandatory pre-set weekly loss and time limits is required to be implemented by December 2025 under the PCRC recommendations.
In January 2025, the independent monitor overseeing Crown Perth's remediation submitted his final report. Following the GWC's own suitability assessment, the Commission recommended no punitive action against Crown Perth. On 8 July 2025, the Racing and Gaming Minister confirmed Crown Perth was suitable to continue holding its casino gaming licence. Former Independent Monitor Paul Steel was subsequently appointed to the GWC to support ongoing supervision — ensuring watchful scrutiny continues beyond formal remediation.
Lotterywest — A Unique Model
🟣 Lotterywest — Government-Owned, Community-Funded
Western Australia's lottery operator is not The Lottery Corporation (the national operator serving all other states). Lotterywest is a Western Australian Government statutory authority — meaning it is owned by the state and operates exclusively for the benefit of WA residents. Its profits are not shared with a listed company or private equity owner. They are returned entirely to the WA community through grants to sporting, arts, health and community organisations.
This model is unique among Australian lottery operators. In a typical year, Lotterywest distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in community grants — from local football clubs to regional hospitals to arts festivals. Its World Lottery Association (WLA) certification is maintained through rigorous responsible gambling standards. The commission's 2024–25 annual report confirms that Lotterywest compliance remains a core function of the GWC's oversight work.
Lotterywest offers Powerball, Saturday Lotto, Oz Lotto and Monday/Wednesday Lotto through the national Australian Lotto Bloc — which pools entries across states to generate larger jackpots — as well as scratch cards and other instant products. It does not operate Keno under the Lotterywest brand; keno is supplied by The Lottery Corporation in WA venues.
Perth Casino Royal Commission — Timeline
Crown Perth was swept up in the same wave of regulatory scrutiny that engulfed Crown Melbourne and The Star Sydney, though its issues — while serious — were less extensive than those documented in the eastern state inquiries. The Perth Casino Royal Commission (PCRC), chaired by Neville Owen, reported in March 2022.
Perth Casino Royal Commission Commences
The WA Government appointed Neville Owen to lead a royal commission into Crown Perth, following the revelations from the NSW Bergin Inquiry and Victorian Royal Commission that documented widespread money laundering and criminal infiltration at Crown properties nationally.
PCRC Final Report — Crown Perth Found Unsuitable
The PCRC found Crown Perth unsuitable to hold its casino gaming licence. Key findings included failures in AML/CTF compliance, inadequate supervision of junket operators, and insufficient responsible gambling practices. The Commission recommended substantial remediation rather than immediate licence revocation, given Crown's strategic importance to the Perth economy.
Independent Monitor Established
The WA Government established an Independent Monitor to oversee Crown Perth's remediation program — a similar structure to those used in Victoria and NSW. The monitor's role was to independently assess Crown's progress against the PCRC recommendations and report to the Gaming and Wagering Commission.
$10 Maximum EGM Bet Cap Introduced
Following PCRC recommendations, the GWC directed Crown Perth to implement a $10 maximum bet limit on all EGMs on the main gaming floor. This is significantly more restrictive than any other Australian casino and one of the most stringent EGM bet caps in the country.
State Agreement Amendments — Licence Fee Increased
Amendments to the Casino (Burswood Island) Agreement Act raised the casino gaming licence fee payable by Crown Perth to properly fund the GWC's administration and regulatory uplift program. This ensures the cost of regulating the casino is borne by the licensee, not taxpayers.
Mandatory Carded Play + Weekly Loss/Time Limits — Crown Perth EGMs
By December 2025, Crown Perth was required to implement carded play on all EGMs, with mandatory pre-set weekly loss and time limits for all players. This follows a $10 maximum bet cap already in place and places Crown Perth among the most tightly regulated EGM environments in Australia.
Crown Perth Licence Retained — Remediation Complete
Following the Independent Monitor's final report (January 2025) and the GWC's own suitability assessment, the Racing and Gaming Minister confirmed no punitive action would be taken and Crown Perth was suitable to continue holding its licence. Former monitor Paul Steel was appointed to the GWC to maintain ongoing oversight.
Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 — Second Tranche of Reforms
WA introduced tougher gambling laws in February 2025, granting the Gaming and Wagering Commission expanded investigative powers and higher fines. The legislation represents the second set of reforms following the PCRC and includes enhanced AML/CTF requirements and casino integrity measures.
Wagering and Point of Consumption Tax
Western Australia has one of the lower Point of Consumption Tax rates on wagering in Australia. At 10% of net wagering revenue over $150,000, it is below Victoria's 15% (from July 2024) and Queensland and South Australia's 15% rates. The lower POCT rate partly reflects WA's resource-driven economy and historically lower reliance on gambling tax revenue compared to eastern states.
The wagering market in WA is typical of other Australian states: horse racing and sports betting are primarily conducted online through licensed operators such as Sportsbet, Ladbrokes and Tabcorp's TAB digital platform. Retail TAB outlets are present in pubs and clubs, and WA Racing operates the state's thoroughbred, harness and greyhound codes. The Perth Racing season, centred on Ascot and Belmont Park, generates significant wagering volume through the Autumn Carnival and summer sprint series.
Gambling Harm in WA — The Evidence
WA's gambling harm profile is substantially different from states with unrestricted EGM access. The key indicators are measurably lower on most dimensions — though this does not mean WA is free of gambling harm.
- Per-capita gambling losses in WA are lower than NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory — primarily because pub and club EGM losses do not exist
- Financial counselling referrals related to gambling are proportionally lower in WA than in comparable eastern states, according to the National Debt Helpline data
- The concentration of gambling losses in low-income LGAs — documented extensively in NSW and Victoria — is absent in WA because the product that drives that harm (local pokies) is not available
- Casino gambling harm still exists: Crown Perth's EGMs attract problem gamblers who travel specifically to access machines unavailable in their suburbs
- Online gambling harm is growing in WA at the same rate as other states — the pub pokie restriction provides no protection against offshore platforms
- The GWC 2024–25 Annual Report identified gambling harm minimisation as a "core priority" and confirmed continued implementation of the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering
