Poker machine profits are used to fund a wide range of community efforts across the country. From sports to education to healthcare, various community initiatives receive substantial benefits from pokies. Now, live music venues may be able to receive funding from poker machines, under a new law that has been proposed by local politicians in Sydney.
For years, members of Syndey’s music industry have blamed poker machines for the decline in popularity of live music venues across the city. While there is plenty of talent to be taken in, patrons prefer to play poker machines. As such, bar owners are reluctant to hire live bands and many musicians are missing out.
To combat this issue, the City of Sydney's Live Music Taskforce has decided that gaming profits should be used to support the live music industry. Sydney is taking a lesson from a program in South Australia, which donated $850 000 to support musicians and live music venues across the state.
''At the end of 1997 I returned from a year backpacking around the world to find most of those gigs shut down and replaced with poker machines,'' says John Wardle, co-director of the National Live Music Office. ''Music, food, gaming are all important parts of the night economy, so I think with good precedents in other states, it's a very interesting option to take.''
The funding will be used to provide additional resources to projects that develop the local live music industry. This includes creating new opportunities for live music at all-ages events while providing local artists with the opportunity to perform internationally. This is an exciting venture for the local gaming industry.
Poker machines and live music can work hand-in-hand to boost the entertainment market and attract more patrons from across Sydney.
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