Paul Weston opinion: Gold Coast clubs want more pokies

Clubs Queensland is fighting to stop poker machines being in a second casino on the Gold Coast, writes Paul Weston. But what is happening in its own backyard? Major clubs want to increase their quota.

CLUBS Queensland is fighting to stop poker machines at a second casino on the Gold Coast.

But it is in contrast to what is happening in its own backyard where major clubs want to increase their quota.

Nerang RSL president Terry McDonald wrote in the club’s newsletter about the planned $2 billion global tourism hub (GTH). His views carry weight as he is the new Clubs Queensland president.

COAST CLUBS AND RSLs ASKED FOR 1600 POKIES BY STATE GOV

The expanding Nerang RSL Club. Photo: Jerad Williams.

His message to members about the GTH, in bold type, read: THIS VENTURE DOES NOT STACK UP. There is not just enough ‘old’ money available to support this new venture and the existing club industry. CLUBS WILL FOLD.”

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The Bulletin was sent a Notice of Application that was lodged with the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation, asking for an increase in gaming machines.

In not so bold type it shows the applicant is the Nerang RSL and Memorial Club.

The club has 188 approved gaming machines. Another 112 additional gaming machines have been requested “giving a total of 300”. Residents could make submissions, the notice said.

EXTRA POKIES SNEAK INTO COAST ‘VIA STEALTH’

The popular Nerang RSL Sports bar.

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Since August last year Gold Coast pokie numbers have surged by 99 to 6070 machines, not including The Star. Queensland has four casinos, NSW is about to open its “table only” second.

Ever visited the Nerang RSL? The staff are consistently courteous, the pokies packed with players. Standing room only in the sports bar for Winx’s last race.

So the club does not want the GTH to have more poker machines, but wants more itself. A source close to the regulator describes this as “complete and utter hypocrisy”.

“This just goes to show the fat cats running these clubs pretend to care when all they care about are themselves,” the source said.

CLUBS DECLARE THEIR POKIES ARE NOT FOR SALE

Tourism Industry Kate Jones reveals the Qld government are calling for interest from global operators in a second Gold Coast gaming resort, at a press conference at Q1. Picture Glenn Hampson.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones is much more diplomatic. “This just shows clearly there are clubs on the Gold Coast that believe they have a bright future regardless of whether a global tourism hub does ahead,” she replied.

Sources suggest the Tourism Minister was not shy at a recent meeting of the GTH advisory committee, asking Mr McDonald whether Nerang was “stockpiling its pokies” to sell-off to a future casino operator.

Ms Jones says pokies for the GTH must be sourced from the existing pool. She knows LNP’s David Crisafulli will be attacking her in parliament, asking about “stockpiling”, so she had to ask.

POKIE NUMBERS ON COAST KEEP CLIMBING DESPITE PROMISES

One of the major players in the second casino debate — The Star Gold Coast Masterplan Development (viewed from the West) in Broadbeach.

The answer from Nerang was an emphatic “no” to stockpiling and that the RSL is going great guns and needs more pokies.

In a lengthy response, Clubs Queensland says its position is strong support for a GTH but “poker machines should not be part of this tourism offer”.

“It is a well-known fact that casinos use poker machines to target the local market with up to 80 per cent of their poker machine revenue being derived from the local market,” a spokesman said.

Nerang RSL had applied for an extra 112 poker machines “some time ago” before the GTH and that number does not compare to what a second casino needs, Clubs Queensland said.

What about just caring for themselves?

“The short answer to this argument is this: you are absolutely correct, community clubs do only care about community clubs, the communities that we serve and our members,” the spokesman replied.

So we have Clubs Queensland interested in welfare of its clubs, The Star interested in protecting its $2 billion expanding Broadbeach casino, the residents at Southport led by Eddy Sarroff interested in protecting their parkland and views.

It makes for the highest stakes billion-dollar gambling game ever in this city as consultation begins. Time for casino proponents to join the gambler’s table and finally show their hands.