Gold Coast businesses cashing in on Pokemon Go craze sweeping the world

THE launch of Pokemon Go has kept Gold Coasters glued to their smart phones – and some enterprising businesses are doing what they can to make the most out of the boom.

Pokemon Go characters have been spotted at major spots on the Gold Coast at Dreamworld.

GOLD Coast businesses are trying to cash in on the Pokemon Go craze that has people glued to their smart phones.

The real-world reality augmentation game incorporates landmarks, usually statues and public monuments, as areas players have to visit.

Some businesses across the Coast have been fortunate enough to be a designated “pokestop”, including One 50 Public House.

Pokemon Go characters at Dreamworld.

Venue manager Tim Willoughby said the pub was seeing a boom from the game with players regularly stopping to top up their pokeballs at the pokestop.

“We are getting people coming into the stop and buying a beer while they do what they want to do on the game," Mr Willoughby said.

“We probably have about 20 people coming in a day.”

The publican said the bar was not far from from the Gold Coast Arts Centre, which was filled with pokestops and pokegyms.

Some businesses across the Coast have been fortunate enough to be a designated “pokestop”, including One 50 Public House at Bundall.

Gold Coast businesses are looking to cash in on the Pokemon Go craze.

Surfers Paradise nightspot Melbas has also taken to the Pokemon craze, holding a Pokemon Go party on Saturday night.

The club has Pokemon-flavoured cocktails and is encouraging people to dress up.

Pokemon Go players are also being enticed to Dreamworld which has pokegyms and 28 pokestops which can only be accessed during park opening hours.

CEO Craig Davidson said the game had been enticing players to all corners of the park.

“Given the game launched only last week, we can’t really quantify its effect on visitation yet,” he said.

“That said, we’ve noticed a lot of people walking around the park with their phones out, swiping screens at pokestops.”

“We’ll also have Pokémon plush toys available to buy at Dreamworld very soon.”

A spokesman for Village Roadshow Theme Parks said they had noticed a number of visitors walking around MovieWorld playing the game.