Call to cap poker machines at NSW clubs as pokies reach 11,000

Exclusive figures from the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing show the 20 biggest pokies clubs have collectively added 118 new poker machines in the past two years. IS YOUR CLUB IN THE TOP 20?

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Anti-gambling advocates are calling on the state government to introduce a cap on the number of poker machines after the top 20 clubs cracked the 11,000 pokies barrier.

Exclusive figures from the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing show the 20 biggest pokies clubs have collectively added 118 new poker machines in the past two years.

The top 20 clubs now boast more than 11,000 poker machines between them.

“There is no other Australian jurisdiction that allows unlimited pokies at clubs,” Alliance for Gambling Reform director Reverend Tim Costello said.

“The NSW government should introduce a cap on pokies numbers for clubs like the 105 limit in Victoria or the 300 limit in Queensland.”

Palm Beach Soccer Club is one of the many clubs suffering with a decline in Poker Machine revenue which helps fund sporting equipment for the club.

However, a ClubsNSW spokesman pointed out clubs pay about $1.4 billion in state and federal taxes, employ tens of thousands of people and provide entertainment to some 6.7 million members.

“The top 20 NSW clubs give back 29 per cent of their net profit to the community through the ClubGrants scheme,” the spokesman said.

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The biggest increase was at Sutherland District Trade Union Club in Gymea, known as Tradies, which added 52 poker machines in the past two years to take its total to 443.

South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club in Kingsford, known as Juniors, added 35 poker machines for a new total of 509, Campbelltown Catholic Club added 24 pokies for a new total of 514 and Canterbury Leagues Club in Belmore added 16 pokies for a new total of 711.

Big poker machine clubs in Sydney would be considered casinos by global standards, according to Mr Costello.

There is no cap on how many poker machines a club can have in NSW, although pubs are limited to a maximum of 30.

Clubs with more than 450 pokies are subjected to more stringent conditions when buying new pokies, such as providing in-house counselling for anyone at risk of developing a gambling habit.

South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club now has 509 poker machines.

Clubs in areas deemed as having a high risk of gambling addiction can only trade among themselves, which makes poker machines hot property.

But there is no cap on how many poker machines a club can have, Clubs in high-risk areas pay about $20,000 for a new machine compared to pubs, which pay around $200,000.

“Why should pubs be limited to 30 when some clubs have more than 300? It makes no sense,” Mr Costello said.

“The big NSW pokies clubs are buying up more pokies to increase their gambling revenue and to stop machines falling into the hands of their competitors.

“Also, if NSW ever does a pokies buyback like what the ACT has just completed, it will be lucrative for the big clubs to have surplus licences they can sell back to the government.”

Alliance for Gambling Reform director Reverend Tim Costello wants a cap on poker machines.

The ClubsNSW spokesman played down the increased number of pokies in big clubs

and said profits were being spent on “much needed social infrastructure” such as seniors living developments, childcare and cancer centres.

“Liquor & Gaming NSW figures show there has been very little movement in the overall number of poker machines in Western Sydney clubs,” the spokesman said.

“According to state government figures the problem gambling prevalence rate in NSW is just 0.8 per cent of the adult population, which is low by international standards.”