How a Sydney billionaire became the pokies king of Alice Springs
Sam Arnaout has built a $3.1 billion pub and pokie fortune – twice that of Justin Hemmes – by flying almost completely below the radar. For some, however, it is coming at a very high cost.
Pubs and clubs owned by Sam Arnaout in Alice Springs have 460 machines. Tim Beor
Nat reckons today could be his day. He’s “feelin’ real lucky”. Over a couple of hours, the $5 he fed into Lightning Cash at the Todd Tavern in Alice Springs has grown to $26, betting 20¢ a spin. “I’m gunna take the family out for a real big feed at KFC tonight,” he says with pride.
His partner, Margie, is sitting beside him on Where’s The Gold, a cheesy version of Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire humming from the machine between spins. She reaches up and tenderly rubs the screen when a firecracker appears and says, “Give me money”. The firecracker is good luck, she says.
Zoe SamiosBusiness reporterZoe Samios covers wagering and the business of sport from the AFR's Sydney newsroom. She was previously the media and telecommunications reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, and covered media at The Australian. Connect with Zoe on Twitter. Email Zoe at zoe.samios@afr.com
