Pokies Gold Coast: Star Entertainment Group pressures government to uphold poker machine pledge

STAR Entertainment Group will today put pressure on the Palaszczuk Government to uphold its poker machine pledge.

STAR Entertainment Group will today put pressure on the Palaszczuk Government to uphold its pledge that no new poker machines will be allowed on the Gold Coast.

In the latest tense standoff over a proposed second casino, The Star will demand Tourism Minister Kate Jones once and for all rule out any possibility of extra machines being allowed in any global tourism hub development.

It comes after the Gold Coast Bulletin on Saturday quoted a casino project insider who said less than one third of the space in the proposed second casino for the Gold Coast would be used for gaming machines.

Casino insiders said the project’s poker machines would be sourced from more than 1450 unactivated licences across southeast Queensland.

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Casino insiders have said less than a third of the proposed second casino would be used for poker machines.

A Star spokesman said the gaming giant would demand assurances from the state this would not be the case, saying there were only 397 spare licences available on the Gold Coast itself.

“We will be asking the government if there is any validity to claims made in the Gold Coast Bulletin on Saturday because they would have serious implications for The Star and for the Gold Coast,” he said.

“The Tourism Minister has made it clear there will be no more poker machines on the Gold Coast.

“To achieve the 1450 number a new operator would have to be gifted or acquire the remainder from other areas. That would mean more than 1050 new machines being parachuted into the Gold Coast.

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“It would also raise the number of machines operating in casinos on the Gold Coast to more than 3000. That would be more casino pokies than any other city in Australia. More than Sydney, more than Melbourne.

“We will be seeking assurances from Government on Monday that this latest round of damaging speculation has no basis in truth.”

Star argues 30 per cent of the floor area being devoted to a casino was excessive, with the under-construction Queens Wharf project allowing only five per cent to gaming.

The proposal could see more casino pokies than in any other Australian city.

Ms Jones yesterday declined to comment on Star’s call for assurances.

The Minister last year in an estimates hearing ruled out granting any additional electronic gaming machines for a Gold Coast tourism hub.

Mayor Tom Tate last week told the Bulletin he would be opposed to any development which was primarily focused on delivering poker machines.

The hub is expected to contain a resort containing about 2500 rooms, all three-and-a-half star, below The Star’s new stock and designed for short three-day stays, with a focus on big entertainment and providing a concert stadium.

A list of 11 sites have been short-listed.

The project is expected to go before Cabinet in coming weeks and will potentially go to market if ticked off.