The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) will extend mandatory shutdown periods for electronic gaming machines (EGMs) from July 2027 as part of changes aimed at reducing gambling harm.
Under the amended rules, gaming machines must be switched off between 2am and 10am from Monday to Thursday and between 2am and 9am on Friday. Saturday's existing 4am to 9am shutdown will remain unchanged, while Sunday's restriction will extend to 4am to 10am.
The changes add 15 hours of mandatory shutdown time each week compared with the current requirement for machines to stop operating between 4am and 9am every day. The Government said restricting access during the early morning is intended to provide longer breaks in play and reduce gambling harm.
Research considered in the regulatory assessment found that people gambling on EGMs late at night were more likely to experience gambling problems. More than 64% of those who gambled between 2am and 8am were classified as experiencing moderate-risk or problem gambling.
The reform is expected to have a financial impact on both gaming venues and the Territory. Government modelling estimates annual revenue losses of AU$2.04m across EGM licensees, while gaming machine tax revenue is projected to fall by AU$454,000 per year.
However, the assessment found that the anticipated harm-reduction benefits outweighed the financial costs and recommended the extended mandatory shutdown over maintaining existing rules or relying on voluntary restrictions.
The regulation was notified on 17 September 2026 and will take effect on 1 July 2027, giving gaming machine operators time to adjust to the new operating requirements.
The ACT currently requires gaming machines to shut down from 4am to 9am daily
