The annual turnover for gaming machines in clubs and hotels in the Dubbo City Council area was $339.3 million in 2015-2016, the latest official figures revealed.

The turnover figure includes amounts won on the pokies and then re-invested into the machines.

Dubbo’s was the highest of 16 local government areas in regional NSW, outstripping both Bathurst and Orange.

The annual figure means that on average poker machines have a turnover of $929,593 every day in the Dubbo City Council area.

The figures pre-date the merger of Dubbo and Wellington councils.

The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority figures contained in the Department of Justice Annual Report 2015-2016 showed that at June 30 last year there were 419 poker machines in clubs in Dubbo, and 203 at local hotels.

After Dubbo’s $339.3 million turnover figure, the next highest was the Orange City Council region with $292.4 million each year.

Bathurst saw $239.5 million, Lithgow $128.6 million and Parkes $80.6 million.

Lifeline Central West executive director Alex Ferguson said problem gamblers made up a small percentage but their debts had serious consequences.

Mr Ferguson said about 40 to 50 people in Orange were currently seeking counselling through Lifeline due to gambling debts.

“It is a major problem, gambling addiction, because when it strikes it invariably affects not only the gambler but the family around that person,” he said.

“When it does strike it is devastating.

“The debts can be significant, they have the ability to affect the way people live.”

Mr Ferguson said a new problem was the rise in online gambling.

“Of far greater concern in this day and age is the gambling online, sports betting in particular,” he said.

“It has proliferated over the past five to seven years.”

ClubsNSW defended the industry, reporting the amount spent by players in the Dubbo LGA in 2015/16 was about $26.2 million, commonly referred to as the expenditure or net profit figure.

“It’s important to remember that more than 90 per cent of the turnover figure is returned to players in the form of prizes,” the spokesman said.

“Therefore, it is completely false to suggest that almost $1 million per day is being put into poker machines.

“The vast majority of people play poker machines for enjoyment, and do so harmlessly.

“In fact, according to Liquor and Gaming NSW, the problem gambling prevalence rate across New South Wales is just 0.8 per cent of the adult population, which is one of the lowest problem gambling rates in the world.”

ClubsNSW has a suite of world’s best practice harm-minimisation programs, the spokesman says.

“The Multi-Venue Self Exclusion scheme allows problem gamblers, or those at risk of becoming a problem gambler, to ban themselves from every club in Dubbo if they so desire,” he said.

“ClubsNSW has formed a partnership with the Salvation Army to place chaplains in clubs across the state, and has appointed former Eels, NSW and Australian great Nathan Hindmarsh as a ClubSAFE Ambassador to spread the message that if you have a problem, it’s OK to ask for help.”

Dubbo MP Troy Grant, a former NSW gaming minister, had not seen the new figures, but said while he was surprised in some ways to learn of the level of gambling, in some ways he was not.

“We're a country community that love our sport, we're strong in racing out here so the fact there's an interest in gambling doesn't surprise me,” he said.

“To hear the quantum makes you think for a minute.

“Obviously there's the issue of problem gambling, and all the legislation and regulation around promotion of problem gambling and that's something the government focuses on but there's significant investment made in gambling helplines, counselling services and that's available right across the state.

“The onus is on the individual and family members around them.

“If someone has a problem with gambling, steer them to the help that is available to them.”