A western Sydney council is calling on the NSW government to stop investing in poker machines with more than $8 billion gambled in the municipality in one year.
Fairfield Council is proposing a cap on pokie numbers in communities with similar levels of gambling and high machine density after $8.27 billion was turned over on machines in the local government area during 2015/16.
The state government was responsible for protecting society's vulnerable including those at high risk of gambling-related problems, Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone said on Tuesday.
"We want the NSW government to create more jobs and invest in infrastructure, not provide more electronic gaming machines in our local area," he said in a statement.
Liquor & Gaming NSW classifies gambling risk in areas based on gaming machine density and expenditure and socio-economic factors, with Fairfield - classed as band three - the highest risk.
Venues in the highest band, such as those within Fairfield, need to apply to an independent authority if they want an increase in gaming machine numbers, Liquor & Gaming NSW deputy secretary Paul Newson said in a statement.
"Venues in band three are subjected to the most stringent assessment processes (compared to bands one and two)," he said.
The NSW Greens are backing Fairfield's call for a machine freeze insisting the state government must support impacted communities.
"The government must now play its part and give pokies-impacted communities like Fairfield support for a freeze and then reduction in machine numbers," Greens MP Justin Field said in a statement.
The Alliance for Gambling Reform has also supported the council, saying the current system lacks transparency as it doesn't allow councils to assess the damage of pokies when assessing applications.
