The casino rain shadow that threatens Gold Coast clubs caught in the war zone for customers

CLUBS Queensland are predicting an economic storm will destroy Gold Coast community groups if a second licence for a casino is granted. And they have a special map to prove it.

CLUBS Queensland are calling it a “casino rain shadow” — an economic storm which threatens community groups within a certain distance from a second Gold Coast casino.

A special map shows the impact of the proposed Global Tourism Hub along with The Star Gold Coast and Queens Wharf in Brisbane will stretch south to Currumbin and west to the Scenic Rim.

A casino rain shadow map.

WHERE GLOBAL TOURISM HUB WILL BE ON COAST

Cabinet as early as next Monday could make a decision on whether to go to market on a Coast GTH, which will see intense bidding for a casino and integrated resort.

All Gold Coast MPs will be provided with the map and research showing more than 330 clubs will be economically impacted if the Government grants a second casino licence on the Glitter Strip.

Clubs Queensland CEO Doug Flockhart told The Bulletin: “The carnage will be real and it will be widespread.

“Australian casinos achieve 70 per cent of their revenue from the local community, and actively target an area of 100km or roughly a two-hour drive distance from their venues for their marketing activities.”

OPINION: COAST DOESN’T NEED MORE POKIES FOR SECOND CASINO TO BE SUCCESSFUL

Clubs Queensland boss Doug Flockhart predicts a David versus Goliath battle against casino operators.

Several Labor Ministers believe the Coast needs new tourist infrastructure to attract overseas tourists but Mr Flockhart rejects suggestions that Australian casinos were massive international or even interstate ‘tourist’ cash cows.

“They earn money from the locals and will be aggressively marketing to anyone who can get in a car and drive to their venue or a complimentary bus or limo,” he said.

“We have had town planners accurately map this radius of 100km around each casino zone in the southeast and the area that will be covered by what we call the casino rain shadow is most of southeast Queensland.”

“The area of big concern to us is the ‘ground zero zone’, or the nexus area where both casino marketing zones crossover.

Aerial view of Carey Park at Southport, an area proposed for a new casino for the Gold Coast. Picture Glenn Hampson

“Within this zone are over 330 community clubs who will be hit on both flanks by both casino marketing zones.”

Tourism Minister Kate Jones has welcomed the Star Entertainment Group announcing their $2 Billion masterplan development of its Broadbeach operation, on top of its $3.2 Billion Queens Wharf development.

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Government insiders suggest a second casino as part of a $1 billion integrated resort could deliver a windfall of $350 million in new public facilities for Coast residents.

The package could include a ferry terminal, a boutique stadium, an amphitheatre and a much needed upgraded convention centre to stop conferences being poached by Brisbane.

But Clubs Queensland is telling MPs that the Government will spark a David versus Goliath battle.

“The Star Entertainment Group have shareholders who want a return on their significant casino investment spend and you’d be foolish not to expect them to be aggressive in the marketplace to hit those revenue targets,” Mr Flockhart said.

“They will be actively marketing to the local market. Community clubs are not-for-profit, they are owned by their members, with all surpluses going back into services and the community. Our industry simply does not have the marketing budgets that casinos have.”