Poker machine profits in NSW pubs and clubs have soared to $6.5 billion over the past year, and rival the GDP of countries such as Fiji, with bigger gains coming despite a fall in the number machines and venues.

The surge in profit is largely attributable to a boom in pubs. Greater Sydney hotels raked in $1 billion of pokie profit in the six months to June, while clubs maintained a near $2 billion profit, according to the latest data released by Liquor & Gaming.

The windfall comes despite NSW government policies removing 506 machines from the clubs' gambling floors and 42 from hotels in the past 12 months. The number of club gaming venues fell by 16, and the number of hotel gaming venues fell by 74.

More than 1350 machines or 1.5 per cent of the state's total have been removed since June 2017, but profits from the remaining 91,000 machines have increased by 5.5 per cent.