Population drives pokies push

Having more than 130 operating poker machines is not enough for Tewantin-Noosa RSL.

The club has applied to the State Government to install another 46 machines.

That would bring the total number of machines in its gaming lounge close to 180.

RSL chief executive officer Phil Stephenson said scoring more "pokies" had been a long-term plan, with a growing population driving demand.

The application was lodged in July last year and it could be another two years before the machines were delivered.

Mr Stephenson said $232,000 from the machine gains had been donated to the community this financial year alone, along with supporting the club's adjoining RSL sub-branch, which has 500 members in its own right.

With the moratorium on gaming machines announced two years ago, the number of machines in Queensland will not change.

The installation of 46 machines at the RSL would mean other clubs across the state have either ditched theirs or closed down.

The notoriously long process still has a lucrative outcome. Queensland Government statistics show that in the six months to February this year, more than $66 million was pumped into our 3501 machines.

That is $200 for every one of the 330,000 people in our region, although at least 85% is returned to punters through winnings.

Machines deliver about $400 profit each month, and with 180 of them, Tewantin-Noosa RSL would turn over about $860,000 a year.

Mr Stephenson said the club donated $2000 from each machine's profits to charity and said an improved RSL would only benefit the community.

"Without additional machines, it's much more difficult to make the expansions we have in mind," Mr Stephenson said.

"It will enable us to expand and the market tells us the need is there."

Submissions to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation close on April 14.

The big punt

*  $66.3m: How much was put into our 3501 machines in six months to Feb 2010.
*  $201: How much every person on the Coast would have to put into pokies to achieve that amount.
*  $9.9m: Turnover from pokies if 85% of bets were refunded as winnings after six months.

Published in the Sunshine Coast Daily on 31 March.

http://www.finda.com.au/story/2010/03/31/club-chases-pokies/