The ACT Greens have always had a strict stance on pokies, arguing that they should be restricted to not-for-profit clubs. Now, the party’s leader Shane Rattenbury is adopting a new perspective, suggesting that it may be a good idea for pokies to be concentrated in casinos rather than spreading them in clubs across the state. Mr Rattenbury has had a very big change of heart.

While his party has always opposed pokies at Casino Canberra, he has now decided that they may have been wrong. He states that the number of pokie venues may be a bigger problem than the overall number of pokies in the state, as having more clubs that offer pokies in the ACT makes the games more readily available.

He asks: “Is it best to have a whole range of venues spread throughout the suburbs where people can access poker machines, or is it better to have perhaps a smaller number of venues in concentrated locations?” This about-face comes as Casino Canberra is requesting the addition of 50 poker machines for its gaming floor. The request is very contentious as pokies have been banned from the casino for years.

However, the operator hopes that an exception will be made as the Casino Canberra prepares for a huge renovation that aims to attract visitors from around the world. Politicians across the state are not very receptive to the idea; however, the business community is in favour. Allowing pokies in Casino Canberra may make the venue more attract to tourists, which could help to boost the economy over time.

This issue is likely to be heavily debated in the coming months. As the story develops, we will keep you updated as the story develops, as the decision will have a huge impact on Canberra’s gaming industry.

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.