Last week, OnlinePokies4U reported that the Shamrock Hotel in Bendigo has applied for 20 new poker machine licenses to fund renovations of the property. Now, the hotel’s owner, Jim Hogan, has stepped into the public eye to announce that he is ready to fight for the new games that will help to make his venue a world-class accommodation.
According to the Bendigo Advertiser, the multi-million dollar renovations depend heavily on the new poker machines. The renovations will build nine five-star apartments above the bar and another ten serviced apartments on the fifth floor of the property. It is estimated that the project will cost $4 million, which is exactly how much patrons of the Shamrock Hotel spent on pokies in 2012.
“The redevelopment won’t go ahead unless I’m successful with the 20 new machines,” says Mr Hogan. “I need the tax breaks and extra revenue to fund the development.” Currently, there are 614 pokies in the City of Greater Bendigo, and the city’s cap is set to 756.
There is room for more pokies, but it seems like the general public is opposed to new games being installed in the area. In response to this opposition, Mr Hogan has referenced a previous battle he had over pokies at the Romsey Hotel in 2009. His request to install new pokies at the location was denied by the local gaming regulator, and he has accused the city council of being too conservative.
In an interview with ABC News, he said: “I would have thought the City of Greater Bendigo, being generally a progressive council, would look at all the facts and figures and approach the process in a measured way, rather than just saying, 'well we've got a blanket anti-gaming policy’”. The deadline for submissions to the public opinion survey has closed.
Now, it is up to the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation to weigh in on the issue and decide whether or not the Shamrock Hotel should get 20 new poker machines.
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