Sydney Man's $160,000 Gambling Loss Highlights Need for Stronger Protections

A Sydney man who spent more than $160,000 on lottery tickets and poker machines in less than two years says his experience shows "more needs to be done" to protect vulnerable community members.

John, who asked to remain anonymous due to stigma associated with gambling harm, turned to gambling as a form of escape after a series of personal events in his life.

"There's an irrational thought that you are going to win all this money and get out of the life you're currently in and make it all better," John said.

He sought help from a gambling counsellor in 2022.

But after suffering workplace bullying two years later, he again turned to gambling "trying to win my way out of this life".

Records shared with the ABC show despite a previous self-exclusion and online spending controls, John was able to spend almost $125,700 on lottery tickets between February 2024 and September 2025.

"It is a loophole I assume has been known for some time."

'No-one said anything to me'

Between October 2024 and September 2025, John said he also lost almost $37,500 on poker machines at The Star casino, including $21,334.97 in September alone.

Despite The Star noting 11 alerts were triggered for John's account between July and September, he was not excluded from the venue until he lodged a formal complaint with the operator in the latter month.

Instead, his membership was upgraded, which he said allowed access to complimentary drinks and higher jackpots.

Correspondence from The Star sent in response to a complaint from John noted he had been physically monitored after nine of the 11 alerts with "no immediate safter (sic) gambling concerns".

He could not be found on one occasion, and on another he was asked to take a 15-minute break.

The letter said he was offered the option to set gaming limits but declined.

The Star declined to comment.

Complaints investigated, no breaches found

Liquor and Gaming NSW (LGNSW) investigated complaints from John regarding both The Lottery Corporation and The Star and found no breaches of the relevant legislation.

Asked about John's experience with The Lottery Corporation, a spokesperson for NSW Gaming and Racing Minister David Harris said: "The minister has … requested that [LGNSW] consider whether more stringent consumer protections are required when the legislative framework for the regulation of lotteries is next reviewed."

A spokesperson for The Lottery Corporation said the company was unable to comment on individual customers.

"Lotteries are a low-frequency form of gambling generally associated with a very low incidence of gambling harm," they said.

John's gambling was primarily funded through credit cards; money John said he never should have been approved to receive.

He is disputing four credit card debts, totalling about $164,000, through the Australian Financial Complaints Authority with the help of a financial counsellor.

Each of the cards are owned by National Australia Bank (NAB).

NAB customer services executive Jocelyn Turner said: "We encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out early — we can help with options such as blocking gambling transactions and [providing] access to support."

John had previously complained to NAB about his gambling transactions in 2020.

He encouraged other people concerned about their gambling to seek help from a specialist financial counsellor, without whom, he said he would be "in a much worse place".

"The lack of empathy, care, lack of financial support for people who hit rock bottom with nowhere to go; more needs to be done."