From Data to Dollars: How Gaming Is Powering Australian Pubs & Clubs

Across Australia, gaming on poker machines (EGMs) is shifting away from the flashy lights of the casino floor, to the local pubs, clubs, and hotels Australians know so well.

These aren’t destination venues - they’re the pub down the road on a sunny evening, or the club where families meet on the weekend. In New South Wales alone, clubs and pubs host close to 87,000 EGMs.

Accessibility, availability, and ease of entry have made local venues the drivers of EGM play in Australia, and as foot traffic continues to grow, so too does the opportunity for venues to get a step ahead.

Why Gaming Deserves Your Focus

For many clubs and pubs, gaming isn’t just a part of the venue’s offer - it’s the financial backbone.

Food and beverage remain important, but gaming is where the revenue is built, acting as a consistent revenue stream that keeps clubs growing. It supports staff, upgrades, and sustains community contributions.

Unlike one-off events or seasonal spikes, gaming is a stable, loyal revenue source. This is why smart clubs see gaming as more than just another branch of the venue; they see it as a core business driver.

Maximising Your Gaming Floor’s Potential

Many clubs have a strong advantage with loyal membership bases but neglect making reliable, data-backed decisions, relying on instinct or outdated reports to make changes on their gaming floor.

What machines generate the most revenue? What area of the room do regular patrons like the best? Is there any activity staff should keep an eye on? Guesswork can only get venues so far, and without clear answers, the opportunity remains just that – an opportunity.

So why not capitalise on the potential of gaming? Better management of the gaming floor creates a better venue experience. Patrons stay longer, engage more, and return more often. Gaming done well strengthens the whole venue.

Your New Advantage: EAGLEi360

It isn’t always clear where to start, how to access the right insights, or when to act - but with Next Payments’ purpose-built business intelligence tool for clubs, EAGLEi360, venues receive the clarity and direction to help them make these decisions. EAGLEi360’s Gaming Machine feature provides a 360-degree view of the gaming floor, providing venues insight like never before.

Taking the guesswork out of gaming management, EAGLEi360:

• Tracks and ranks EGM performance
• Identifies trends and hot spots
• Automates gaming reports
• Streamlines harm minimisation with the Safestakes module

And most importantly, EAGLEi360 empowers and equips venues with the insights needed to make informed decisions.

The result? Smarter strategies, stronger performance, and sustained revenue.

With the right tools and information on hand, clubs, pubs, and hotels across Australia can create a stronger and safer gaming experience for their patrons, growing strategically while keeping the community feel that makes them special.

For more information on EAGLEi360, or for a personalised demonstration, head to: https://www.nextpayments.com.au/solution/eaglei360 or contact us on 1300 659 918.

Have a question or would like more information? Please contact: media@nextpayments.com.au