In 2007, the Petersham Bowling Club decided to replace its poker machines with more community-focused entertainment, such as live music. The venture was expected to fail, but the venue’s owners are now celebrating their first-ever profit since the transition was made. Local developers had targeted the venue five years ago, planning to demolish it and build townhouses in the area.
To protect the bowling club, community members stepped in and took over. When this acquisition occurred, the new owners decided to get rid of the club’s pokies and re-align the venue to be more community-focused. This included introducing live entertainment, craft beers and family-friendly special events.
The transition away from pokies was a long-term vision, but the owners were concerned that it would ultimately be unsuccessful. According to Club President Mark Lucas, he was planning an exit strategy in 2011. Fortunately, the venue continued to attract attention from local residents, and the Petersham Bowling Club is now beginning to thrive. For the first time since removing its pokies, the bowling club has turned a profit.
The venue’s owners are celebrating this achievement, but they recognize that they will have to continue putting in hard work to keep the business afloat. It is certainly a difficult business strategy, but it is rewarding. “Of course these things ebb and flow,” Mr Lucas said in an interview with TheMusic.com.au, “As we invest in the business, which we have to do, we may return to the red, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”
This business model could be an inspiration for other pokie venues across the country. Some club owners have expressed an interest in replacing their pokies with family-friendly entertainment, and live music may be the way to go. Responsible gambling groups have urged venues to reduce their reliance on poker machine revenue, and this could be a great strategy for making this transition.
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