Buckley’s Entertainment Centre has 30 per cent jump in poker machine revenue last financial year
A poker machine venue which financially supports all of the region’s football clubs saw a significant jump in gaming revenue last financial year.
A poker machine venue which financially supports all of the region’s football clubs hauled in an extra 30 per cent in gaming revenue over the past financial year, a new report reveals.
The Geelong Combined Leagues Club, which operates as Buckley’s Entertainment Centre in Breakwater, took in $8.8m in gross gaming revenue in the financial year to June 30, 2023 before upgrading its gaming room and children’s area late last year.
It was a significant rise from $6.7m in 2021-22, a recent financial report tendered to Australian Securities and Investment Commission reveals.
The president of the venue’s landlord, the Geelong and District Football League, Neville Whitley, said the increase was likely due to a 21-22 financial year greatly hampered by Covid closures and restrictions.
The club, which opened in late 1993 to assist local football leagues and clubs at a former clothing manufacturer S.R. Gents, has 105 registered electronic gaming machines.
It made a total profit of $2.6m last financial year compared to $1.7m in 21-22, the report found.
Meanwhile, Buckley’s took in $4.9m in gaming expenditure in the second half of 2023, behind only the Sphinx Entertainment Centre ($5.1m) and Grovedale Hotel ($6m) for pokies venues in the City of Greater Geelong, state government data revealed.
Whitley said the league remained the landlord for the venue, after inviting all GFNL and BFNL clubs, plus the Geelong Football Umpires League, to come in as joint partners to ensure it could attain a licence for 105 poker machines back in the early 1990s.
“The GDFL are the landlords and still own the property, the business is run by a board of management that is then responsible to the GDFL, the GFL, the Bellarine and umpires league,” Whitley said.
“They didn’t put in any money (initially) as such, they were just invited in to get the 105 machines.
“There are 38 entities (of the Geelong Combined Leagues Club) that derive a dividend when Buckely’s give a dividend out, they all get the same.
“They’re an equal entity member that actually have a say in the running of the business.”
However, he said the GDFL did not have any influence in the running of Buckley’s: “The GDFL as the landlord receives rental each month. The freehold is owned by the GDFL, the business is run by entities.”
He said all 38 entities received $10,000 last year.
Whitley, along with media identity and football commentator Tom King and Leisure Networks program co-ordinator Luke Maher, were Geelong Combined Leagues Club directors last financial year.
Buckley’s, which has won numerous awards and sponsors junior footy, handed out nearly $460,000 in donations, gifts and sponsorships last financial year, a community benefits statement showed.
Geelong Football Umpires League chairman David Chaston said Buckley’s makes a “significant contribution” to AFL Barwon each year and remains one of its premier partners.
This publication reported Buckley’s provided $570,000 to local footy in 2020.
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Originally published as Buckley’s Entertainment Centre has 30 per cent jump in poker machine revenue last financial year
