Pubs, clubs want pokies as Sunshine Coast gamblers land on losers’ list
As new stats shows the Sunshine Coast region has lost more than $200m on the pokies, multiple pubs and clubs have applied for new machines. Check out our interactive map.
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Sunshine Coast and Noosa gamblers have lost more than $200m playing the pokies in the past financial year with hundreds more machines potentially on their way to the region.
The Sunshine Coast was in the top 10 losing local government areas in Queensland, blowing more than $172m, while in Noosa it was more than $27m.
Three Sunshine Coast pubs or clubs and one Rainbow Beach venue have applied for gaming licences for nearly 170 machines and the Golden Beach Tavern in Caloundra is requesting an extension of trading hours from 10am-12.30am to 10am-4am.
A community survey was currently being carried out by RSA Liquor Professionals seeking feedback on a proposed hotel and gaming licence for the yet-to-be built Peregian Springs Tavern.
The survey revealed 45 gaming machines were included in the proposal.
The proposed trading hours for the pokies in the new pub were 10am-2.30am, but the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation was yet to receive a formal licence application for the venue.
Coolum Beach Surf Life Saving Supporters Club general manager Mal Wright said a distinction was needed between not-for-profit community clubs and profitmaking establishments.
“Non-profit clubs are for the benefit of the community, whether through the (gambling) community benefit fund or the activities the clubs undertake in the community,” he said.
He said playing poker machines had been legal in Queensland since the 1990s and the surf club had won best gaming venue in 2019 mainly because of its actions in regards to responsible service of gambling.
The general manager said, for the majority, the pokies were part of a social outing.
Mr Wright said clubs relied on the pokies as part of the “business puzzle” and taking any piece away meant the business was at risk of becoming unviable.
“I don’t think it would help gambling issues, I think they just go elsewhere,” he said.
Psychologist Rachael Sharman said pokies were “right up there” with the more addictive types of gambling.
“The algorithm that sits behind this is so that you lose,” Ms Sharman said.
“But you get this occasional win, this oasis in the desert.
“It’s really old psychology.”
She said a win encouraged a “massive rush” of the feel-good chemical, dopamine, in the brain and the “random and unpredictable” nature of winning encouraged anticipatory dopamine.
“They’re designed to addict people, there’s no question about that,” Ms Sharman said.
She said she appreciated the design of many venues meant the pokies were in a different room or “tucked away” but that it was also reasonable that vulnerable people should be able to go out and not be exposed to them.
Sunshine Coast, Noosa property: New data reveals house and unit values
An Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation spokeswoman said a venue with a gaming machine licence was considered to have significant community impact.
“All applications must be accompanied by a community impact statement and a statement of responsible gambling initiatives for the premises,” she said.
The spokeswoman said the application must also be advertised to “notify the public” of the applicant’s intention for the premises and that gave the community an opportunity to comment on the application.
“There is a statewide cap on the total number of electronic gaming machines that can operate in Queensland’s licensed hotels and clubs,” she said.
“Any approvals to operate electronic gaming machines will not increase the statewide numbers of electronic gaming machines.”
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