Council elated as pokies bid rejected

THE Geelong Polish Community Association will not be allowed to double the number of its poker machines after the move was rejected by the state’s gaming regulator.

The group applied to add 43 poker machines at the White Eagle House in Breakwater, but Geelong council stood in the way when it allocated $30,000 to fight the application.

Punters lost $1.69 million at White Eagle House during the 2017-18 financial year at an average of $48,391 a machine, the council said.

Social and economic disadvantage and a high concentration of poker machines already in the area were other reasons the council argued against the application at the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation.

Cr Sarah Mansfield said an expert witness and lawyer were used to fight the bid.

“The City of Greater Geelong argued strongly against this application for more pokies as we recognise the harms to our community caused by problem gambling,” Cr Mansfield said.

“This is the outcome council fought for, and is the right one for the health and wellbeing of our community.”

The council said there were 20 pokies per 1000 adults in the area surrounding White Eagle House — way above the regional average of 2.5 machines per 1000 adults. “This decision reflects council’s strong stance on this issue as we seek to protect our community from the damage caused by pokies,” Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood said.

“There’s no doubt a doubling of pokies at White Eagle House would have had a negative impact on residents.”

Greater Geelong pokies players have lost more than $81.5 million over the first eight months of the 2018-19 financial year.