New research shows that people in New South Wales (NSW) who play poker machines late at night are more likely to have gambling problems.
 Harm from gaming machines in NSW
 The study was called "The Impact of Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) Late Night Play on EGM Player Behaviours" and it looked at people who played pokies machines late at night.

 The survey said that most of the people who played poker machines late at night had gambling problems.  It also showed that two-thirds of participants who played between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. had "significant" unfavourable effects.

 The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) in New South Wales said it will use the study to help it make choices on rules and regulations for late-night gaming in the future. 

 Reduce the damage caused by gambling
 Caroline Lamb, chairman of ILGA, said, "As part of our legal duty to reduce gaming-related harm, ILGA will use the study's findings to help make decisions in the future."

 "ILGA has taken a number of steps to reduce the harm caused by gambling and deal with worries about apps that make it easier to find gaming machines after midnight. 

 "We created Guideline 16 to help gaming venues lower the harm caused by gambling after midnight and encourage responsible gambling.  

 "This includes a preference that all gaming-related applications must come with a Gaming Plan of Management that includes a number of steps to help licensees reduce the harm caused by gambling in venues.  

 "ILGA also sets rules for gaming-related applications to lower the risk of gambling-related harm."  

 The NSW government's Responsible Gambling Fund paid for the study, with help from Liquor & Gaming NSW, and Roy Morgan Research did the work.