Urgent state government intervention is need on gambling reform, Georges River Council was told.

Georges River Council will call on the state government to show urgent leadership on gambling reform.

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Incremental change is not enough and decisive government intervention is needed, the council was told.

This would include:

- mandatory, universal cashless gaming system with enforceable pre-commitment limits to reduce harm.

- Reduced operating hours for poker machines, including mandatory shutdown periods overnight.

- Stronger caps on poker machine numbers, particularly in communities already experiencing high levels of socio-economic disadvantage.

- A significant increase in funding for local, community-based gambling harm prevention, counselling and support services.

The moves were outlined in a notice of motion submitted by Councillor Kathryn Landsberry at last month's full council meeting which was unanimously supported by councillors.

She asked that the council call on the NSW Government to respond to all outstanding recommendations from independent inquiries, panels and audits into gambling reform, and demonstrate genuine leadership in addressing what is increasingly recognised as a major public health issue.

The council will write to the Premier, the Minister for Gaming and Racing, and local state Members for the Georges River area outlining the council's position and reinforcing that the council considers the current level of gambling harm in NSW to constitute a significant public health issue requiring urgent and decisive government intervention.

Cr Landsberry said she was really disappointed at the lack of action by the state government on the issue.

"The Georges River community is losing around $5 million a week on poker machines," she said.

"At this rate the LGA is on a trajectory to reach around half-a-billion dollars in losses each year by 2030. That's money that should support local families, local businesses and community well-being.

"There have been some small incremental changes but there hasn't been any real action.

"So far the Minns Government has refused to endorse cashless gaming cards and has yet to unveil its policies to combat money laundering and gambling harm.

"We have got 87,000 machines operating in pubs and clubs in NSW and that is only second in the world to the US state of Nevada, home of Las Vegas. Do we really want to have that as one of the signs we are famous for?

"I would like to see the state government take some action. Last year in NSW over $9 billion was put through poker machines. It's something that we just can't continue to look away from," she said.

Cr Landsberry was seconded by Cr Peter Mahoney.

"Despite several unanimous resolutions which Cr Landsberry and I have initiated in recent years and the exceptional efforts of Council staff, our partner Wesley Mission and other benevolent organisations which also operate locally such as St John's Anglican Church, Kogarah, the figures remain alarming," he said.

"Poker machine losses in our LGA have gone up $35 million in the year ending August 2024, and here in Georges River, players lost more than those in each of Bayside and Sutherland Shire LGAs, even though both of those LGA's have higher populations than we do.

"All Notices of Motion lodged by Councillor Landsberry and myself have been unanimously accepted by both current and former councillors of all political persuasions - Labor and Liberal, plus independents and the GRRR. I cannot fathom why all of us local councillors totally understand the issue, but our Labor and Liberal counterparts in Macquarie Street never seem to get it.

"I hope the government closely examines this comprehensive Notice of Motion without delay. If not, I strongly encourage anyone in this room who is considering running for state election next year to adopt this matter as a crucial campaign issue," he said.