Pokie clubs are some of the most popular entertainment venues in Australia. However, they have experienced some difficulty attracting players in recent years. Thanks to anti-pokie campaigns and increases in liquor license fees, pokie clubs in Canberra have been struggling to make a significant profit.

So, Clubs ACT has jumped into action, requesting that the local government make a number of changes that will benefit pokie club owners. Firstly, Clubs ACT would like to see the local government give pokie clubs the chance to diversify. In recent years, club owners have been refused the right to acquire more land.

Responsible gambling advocates campaign against any such developments, concerned that club owners will simply want to expand their gaming floors. However, many operators are interesting in other entertainment options, such as bigger restaurant or bar space. Since lease variation options are so strict, few pokie clubs are given the opportunity to expand.

The organization also believes that club owners have received unfair treatment with regards to liquor licensing fees. Over the course of the past year, the ACT has raised its liquor fees by $2000 while other states have lowered them. To counteract this, Clubs ACT has suggested that the local government introduce a rebate system, which would lower liquor fees for clubs that do not have a history of alcohol-related incidents.

Another interesting point of concession is the Doors of Scores scheme. The local government wants to score clubs and pubs based on the quality of their food, but Clubs ACT is not entirely on board with the plan. Representatives have requested that the program be trialled before it is introduced.

“Canberra is not business-friendly and needs to do more to attract, encourage and retain business to generate economic growth and employment,” says a Clubs ACT spokesperson. These suggestions have been made in order to increase competition in Canberra’s poker machine market. With expensive operating costs and limited opportunities to expand, club owners cannot generate significant financial growth.

Clubs ACT hopes that these new provisions will help to ensure that clubs across the state can continue to thrive.

About the Author

George Anderson
Author George, has over 25+ years’ experience in the Pokies and Casinos industry throughout Australia and New Zealand. Loves to research new Pokies games on the block and follows announcements from top industry providers about their upcoming releases. As soon as a new interesting pokie game appears on his radar, George is there to check it out and give you the scoop before anyone else and tell you about all casino sites where can play the latest game. Before this gig, George worked as Pokie game tester, making him an ideal candidate for this genre of work. He is also an animal lover and a proud owner of three dogs.