Arncliffe Scots plans poker machine increase after St George Leagues merger in bid to stay ‘financially viable’

One of Sydney’s long-running sports and social clubs has lodged a bid to increase its number of poker machines by almost 25 per cent – just weeks after the club was amalgamated due to financial strain.

One of Sydney’s longest running sports and social clubs has lodged a bid to increase its number of poker machines by almost 25 per cent – just weeks after the club was amalgamated due to financial strain.

The Arncliffe Scots Sports & Social Club has applied to Liquor and Gaming NSW to boost its number of electronic gaming machines from 75 to 93 in a move it argues would help the venue remain financially sustainable.

The application comes two months after the club was merged with St. George Leagues Club.

If approved by the gaming regulator, the proposed extra gaming machines at Arncliffe would be acquired from the St George Masonic Club in Mortdale which wants to sell 18 of its gaming machine entitlements.

The masonic club argued the sale would address a “high level of financial stress” faced by the club and ensure it can keep its 35 staff in jobs.

The Arncliffe Scots Sports & Social Club.

Arncliffe Scots says the extra poker machines would “make a positive community contribution to the local community” and “support the financial viability” of the venue.

“The approval (of the increase) will allow for investment into the club premises that needs significant repair and upgrading,” the club’s application adds.

The Arncliffe Scots was dissolved in December as part of the merger with The St. George Leagues Club which is now overseeing the management of the venue.

Arncliffe Scots was amalgamated into the St George Leagues Club group in December.

The merger was prompted by the “deteriorating financial” position of Arncliffe Scots which experienced growing losses over the last three financial years.

It a statement, the St George Leagues Club said it was “business as usual for the moment” for Arncliffe Scots as it plans “exciting new activities” for the venue in 2024.

St George Leagues Club has pledged that the “traditions, amenities, culture, facility and activities” would be maintained at the Arncliffe venue.

A photo of the Arncliffe venue.

The application for the gaming machine increase states there would be measures to address potential gaming related harm including on-staff gaming supervisors and player precommitment player cards which will be available upon request.

It has also proposed to take part in the NSW Government’s cashless gaming trial.

Wayne Nolland – the chief executive of St George Maso’s which is proposing to sell its gaming machine entitlements to Arncliffe Scots – said the sale would provide a much needed cash boost and keep its 35 staff in jobs.

Under NSW gaming laws, venues with gaming machine entitlements can sell and transfer the entitments to other venues.

“We are currently in a high level of financial stress trading week to week due to a combination of the current economic environment, outstanding loans incurred by previous management for renovations which ran over budget and (gaming tax),” Mr Nolland said.

“To help us recover from this immediate financial distress and continue to be a sustainable business and community support, we are in the process of selling our excess (gaming machines) that are not active on our gaming floor to generate the essential cashflow necessary to keep our doors open.

“If St George Maso’s if forced to close its doors due to the financial assistance from the sale of excess GME’s not being approved very soon, this will affect all the community by taking away from their family safe place where they meet for a meal, beverage, a raffle or just a chat with long time mates the employment”.

Arncliffe Scots has also proposed making a contribution of $229,766 to promote measures to address gaming harm if the additional gaming machines are approved.