Last week, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal decided that the new Castlemaine Sports and Social Club would not be allowed to install poker machines. The decision was viewed as a triumph by community group Enough Pokies in Castlemaine (EPIC), but the community may experience some negative effects for refusing to accept new pokies into its gambling market.

Representatives of Clubs Victoria, which represents pokie venues across the state, have spoken out against the decision. According to the group’s executive director Richard Evans, the VCAT ignored the needs of residents who want new gaming venues. The community is in need of a new venue in which residents can gather, but Clubs Victoria feels that the lack of pokies will fail to bring people together at the new club.

“We’re disappointed with the recent VCAT decision,” he said. “We know that there is strong community support for the not-for-profit clubs model where profits go back into the community.” Evans speaks on behalf of community members who felt that a new pokie venue would benefit them.

Without pokies, some are concerned that the new venue will not attract patrons and fail to be a club that provides adequate entertainment options for its visitors. The club will have to find other ways to attract visitors, deciding on a new business model – and local residents hopes that the Maryborough Highland Society will not abandon its plans to build the venue now that it has been denied a poker machine license.

There are some venues across the country that have recently adopted pokie-free business models, and the Maryborough Highland Society may want to take notes from them. It is possible to have a successful club without poker machines and it will be up to the society to determine a new way to engage community members without the temptation of gambling.

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.