Australian Club Applies for Poker Machines
During the next few weeks, residents of Young, Australia will be able to
provide feedback for the Young Service’s Club’s application to be
allowed an extra amount of poker machines. The club says that the
application has been made in response to the requests of members and
guests. As part of the application process CMP marketing, a company
based out of Sydney, has completed a Social Impact Assessment report.
The findings of the report have been made available to the Young
Services Club.
The assessment analyzes the population and demographics of the Young
area, and uses these factors to assist in determining the impact of
additional gambling on residents. The Chief Executive Officer of the
club, Dean Cafe, has said it is the request from patrons of the club
more than anything else which led the Young Services to request
permission to purchase more of the machines. Cafe cites a growth in
membership and an increased turnover, which he says means that some days
there are no available machines. Cafe also adds that Young Services Club
is growing quickly, from the perspective of management, and there is now
a need for more machines for its members.
“There is more demand from patrons now,” Cafe said in a recent
interview. “We have 64 (machines) at the moment, and are looking at
going up to 70. Six machines will not have a huge impact. Some hotels
are selling their licenses and the number of machines in Young has
actually reduced.”
The Social Impact Assessment cam up with similar findings. There are a
total of 85 poker machines in four clubs in the Young area, including
the Young Golf Club, Bowling Club and the Bribbarree Services and
Citizens Club, in addition to the Young Services Club. The ratio of
machines to adult residents of Young is 99 per 1000, which is
considerably lower than the state average of 147 machines per 1000
adults.
This ratio is one of the reasons Young Services Club has applied for
additional machines. They also list a desire to improve overall services
to their members and guests, and an increased internal demand. There are
ten machines in the proposal, and the club has had four of them for the
past year.
Under a review of the legislation, the SIA1 allows for up to ten
machines. The Young Services club had already applied for four machines
last year, and now wants to add the additional six. Cafe does not
believe they will have any significant impact.
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