PHANTOM MENACE
CASINO STAR WARS: THE SAGA CONTINUES
Ninety new approved slot machines for Gold Coast pubs and clubs since Kate Jones pledged no more pokies for global tourism hub JEDI JONES: NOTHING TO DO WITH ME. YVETTE WILL KNOW D’ATH VADER: I DON’T MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT APPLICATIONS
THE State Government’s recent promise not to increase city pokies for a rival gaming resort is being questioned after the approved number soared past 6000 for the first time.
The Office of Liquor and Gaming’s website shows the “approved Electronic Gaming Machines” on the Glitter Strip went from 5971 in August 2018 to 6061 by January.
Tourism Minister Kate Jones, who in August promised “no more pokies” for a global tourism hub on the Coast, last night said: “Broader EGMs are (Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath’s) policy area — she will know.” Ms D’Ath said she “does not make decisions about applications”.
Gold Coast Opposition MP David Crisafulli called it an increase “via stealth”. “These figures have caught them out,” he said.
THE number of approved poker machines in Gold Coast pubs and clubs have jumped by 90 since the State Government promised no net increase for a potential global tourism hub.
It has prompted Gold Coast Opposition Tourism spokesman David Crisafulli to accuse the government of pokie increases “via stealth”.
The Office of Liquor and Gaming’s (OLGR) website shows “approved Electronic Gaming Machines” jumped 90 from August 2018 to January.
The rise from 5971 pokies to 6061 is the first time it surged past 6000. It is the biggest jump in three years since February 2016 when it sat at 5976.
The OLGR numbers are in pubs and clubs only and don’t include the 1600 machines at The Star Gold Coast casino.
The Bulletin discovered the rise last night, a day after the State Government revealed it would invite proposals for a second Coast gaming resort.
The discovery was too late for insight from the OLGR office as it had closed for the day.
Asked if she could explain the rise, Tourism Minister Kate Jones said: “I promised no increase on the Gold Coast for the GTH – broader EGMs are (Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath’s) policy area – she will know.”
A spokeswoman for Ms D’Ath said: “The Attorney-General does not make decisions about applications.
“The Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming assesses applications independently, on merit within existing statewide caps and available licences.”
In August, after Ms Jones’ “no more pokies” pledge, Clubs Queensland head Doug Flockhart said he was adamant clubs would not sell a single pokie to any new casino operator arriving, but others were not so sure.
A top Coast club official said clubs were hurting post Commonwealth Games and some could see sales of pokies – particularly unused entitlements – as a money maker. “It’s all about supply and demand. If a casino operator came in and offered over the odds, say $10,000 for EGM licences, then that could be a lifeline for some small struggling clubs.”
Mr Crisafulli teased the no more pokies pledge out of Ms Jones in estimates in August last year, asking: “Can you rule out granting any additional electronic gaming machines for the Gold Coast tourism hub located in my city?”
She replied: “Yes.”
Last night, he said: “This is massive. How can the government be trusted to honour its no new pokies commitment on the Coast when they have slipped extra ones in?
“Via stealth, they’re going to turn this city into slot machine central. The promise of no new pokies has as much credibility as a problem gambler’s pledge of just one more spin. These figures have caught them out.”
The Gold Coast Bulletin sent the
State Government offices of Tourism Minister Kate Jones and Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath scrambling last night.
To be fair to their offices, it was late, about 6pm, when this newspaper discovered the number of “approved Electronic Gaming Machines” (that is how it is termed on the Office of Liquor and Gaming website) had jumped by 90 since August.
But that startling fact, which happened to coincide with Ms Jones pledging there would be no net increase in pokies on the Gold Coast for a potential global tourism hub, was worth highlighting.
It was too late to get insight from the OLGR office which had closed. We will hear from that office no doubt today and update you when we do.
But on the face of it, approved pokie numbers in pubs and clubs – which is where any new gaming resort operator entering the Gold Coast will be forced to procure machines – have gone up.
The figures do not lie.
The approved number, according to OLGR’s site dating back to February 2016, bounce around a little. But the increase by 90 since August, shooting through 6000 for the first time, marks the biggest jump in three years. By far.
A government spokesperson last night explained to the Bulletin on background their understanding for the fluctuation in numbers is due to venues outside the Gold Coast – say in Brisbane – being able to shift pokies to a venue inside the Gold Coast.
Therefore the number would increase with little to no say from the government.
A gaming industry insider also concurred with that view, telling the Bulletin
“if someone wants to move their machines, they can move their machines”.
But they added regardless of how the numbers had increased “there are 90 more machines on the Gold Coast”.
“It makes a mockery of government ability to control how many machines there are in a market. So Kate Jones saying I’ll never allow more machines on the Gold Coast ... well guess what?”
It leads to questions around what control the government has around pokie machine numbers and its ability to make the promise it did back in August.
One key point highlighted when State Government decided this week to test the marketplace for interest in developing a global tourism hub or intergrated gaming resort on the Coast was transparency.
Wisely, Tourism MinisterJones revealed a Gold Coast advisory panel of city leaders with its interests at heart would ride shotgun through the process. But this quiet increase in pokies, which has Gold Coast Opposition MP David Crisafulli questioning whether the State Government can keep its promise, is a blow to that transparency and credibility.
Incidentally, the 1600 pokies in The Star Gold Coast’s casino are not included in the OLGR site numbers. Their last increase was 200 machines back in late 2010.
They have promised to proceed with their masterplan development at Broadbeach – a further four towers with enhanced dining and hospitality venues and amenity – without increasing their pokies.
Can the government still say the same with a GTH?