Highlanders have put millions of dollars into poker machines at clubs and hotels over a period of six months.
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Wingecarribee clubs made $7,627,455.70 in net profit in six months, while Wingecarribee hotels made $3,420,157.10, according to the latest NSW Department of Industry data.
The clubs data was collected by the department from June 1 to November 30, 2018, while the hotels data was collected during July 1 to December 31, 2018.
Wingecarribee clubs paid $1,320,468.15 in taxes, and hotels paid $799,689.09 in taxes over the six month period.
Mittagong RSL Club was in the top 100 at 89 out of 1094 locations for gaming machine net profit across the state. The RSL Club also came in at 89 out of 1094 locations for net profit per gaming machine with 165 gaming machines at the premises.
This was followed by Moss Vale Services Club, which came in at 331st on the list with a total of 79 gaming machines.
Alliance for Gambling Reform director and spokesman Tim Costello said the overall 2018 NSW pokies loss of $6.815 billion was "a shocking indictment on NSW with its weak regulations, enormous machine numbers and the most dangerously addictive pokies in Australia". "This is a social disaster needing urgent action," Mr Costello said.
According to a ClubsNSW spokesman, registered clubs in the Wingecarribee Shire paid $3.65 million in tax to the state government and ClubsNSW had "developed a suite of world's best-practice responsible gambling initiatives known as the ClubSAFE program".
"These include the multi-venue self-exclusion scheme, which allows people to voluntarily exclude themselves from every club and pub in the local area if they so choose. ClubSAFE also operates a 24-hour gambling counselling helpline," they said.
A ClubsNSW spokesman said paid more than $8 million in wages to the 229 locals they employ, making a $4.8 million social contribution and donating more than $257,000 annually to local charities, sporting teams and community groups through the ClubGRANTS scheme.
"These groups include St Vincent de Paul, Wingecarribee SES, Lifeline Macarthur, local schools, Mittagong Junior Rugby League Football Club and U Turn The Wheel - a driver education course for high school students."
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