Clubs with pokies, can there be only one?

ClubsACT said :

As the Minister’s office has pointed out, this scheme is not about replacing clubs with residential or other developments, it’s about clubs using the land around their club building for development. So there won’t be any small clubs gobbled up by bigger clubs as a result of this policy – in fact quite the reverse. This will allow small independent clubs to achieve a more sustainable financial future that doesn’t rely on poker machines. Surely that’s a good thing?

Land around the club hey?

What like bowling greens, golf courses and rugby fields?

Yes, yes, won’t affect the clubs at all.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

ClubsACT said :

As the Minister’s office has pointed out, this scheme is not about replacing clubs with residential or other developments, it’s about clubs using the land around their club building for development. So there won’t be any small clubs gobbled up by bigger clubs as a result of this policy – in fact quite the reverse. This will allow small independent clubs to achieve a more sustainable financial future that doesn’t rely on poker machines. Surely that’s a good thing?

How does it feel to be the spokesperson for a industry that does more harm to familys in canberra than drugs do?

Alcohol manufacturers make money from people drowning their sorrows.
Coffee growers and cafes make money from people’s fatigue.
Car companies make money from people’s desire to drive a status symbol.
People gain at other people’s expense.

I’m no fan of clubs, I think they’re boring holes into which people throw away a lot of time and money. But it’s simple supply and demand theory. If people didn’t choose to go to use the pokies, they wouldn’t ave pokies. So the blame does reside with the people in the end who choose to pursue a destructive course, the consequences of which are both foreseeable and well known.

ClubsACT said :

As the Minister’s office has pointed out, this scheme is not about replacing clubs with residential or other developments, it’s about clubs using the land around their club building for development. So there won’t be any small clubs gobbled up by bigger clubs as a result of this policy – in fact quite the reverse. This will allow small independent clubs to achieve a more sustainable financial future that doesn’t rely on poker machines. Surely that’s a good thing?

How does it feel to be the spokesperson for a industry that does more harm to familys in canberra than drugs do?

As the Minister’s office has pointed out, this scheme is not about replacing clubs with residential or other developments, it’s about clubs using the land around their club building for development. So there won’t be any small clubs gobbled up by bigger clubs as a result of this policy – in fact quite the reverse. This will allow small independent clubs to achieve a more sustainable financial future that doesn’t rely on poker machines. Surely that’s a good thing?

It’s interesting watching the pokie reforms going on and the changes the clubs make.

For example: The Raiders Club. It was in the paper recently. Diverse portfolio anyone? Yup. Lots of property. Including a Bunnings up Sydney way.

At the end of the day, the pokies are a big money spinner, but to assume they are stupid and not diversifying is mind-boggling.

However, don’t think that small clubs are always as small as you think. Someone mentioned a pile of ‘small clubs’ earlier (And calling them ‘non-multivenue). They included “Eastlake Ainslie”. Well yeah. But also Eastlake Calwell and Eastlake Kaleen.

There are a few more examples out there. I won’t list, but it’s not just Labor, Hellenic, Vikings, Southern Cross and Tradies.

As for the land use. It’s not just adjacent to the club itself. Many clubs actually have land seperate to the club itself. Some have unused ovals. Some actually own buildings and complexes which have been under consideration for demolition, but the cost has been prohibitive.

So.. I don’t fall on either side of the debate much (I use club facilities. I love it when they have live music. I had my bucks night at a club becase… a: Alcohol was cheaper, thus easier for the other guys to get me drunk as is tradition and b: because it was less crowded, and there were places where you could sit and talk without shouting), but there is a lot of myth surrounding clubs and poker machines.

Love the Basement and the Pot Belly. The Basement featured three punk bands from Goulburn a few weeks ago. i cant be sure, but I suspect the same punks were in each band. Or the Goulburn punk scene is bigger than I thought.

No pokies in either – which is why they get my money.

johnboy said :

Shame they’re bicycle haters.

Is that why you were banned?

I also missed the Font, ANU Bar, UC bar.

If I just want music I’ll go to place with a band that plays covers. Otherwise I’m going to the gig of a band that I have spefically sought out. Many places to have a drink with my friends while listening to music.

The vikings in particular has always filled the role of quiet place to have a drink with friends with a cover band.

What’s a “smalls club”? Something for underwear fetishists?

pink little birdie said :

dvaey said :

pajs said :

This might be a stupid question, but are there clubs that don’t have pokies in Canberra? I’d be happy to give some patronage to a local club that had a bar, a bit of food, maybe music and no poker machines. Is there a club like that?

One thing I sorely missed when moving from NSW, was the lack of a simple ‘pub’.. somewhere to go and drink, socialise, listen to live music, etc.. The ACT has nothing like that, other than a few derelict taverns.

The only clubs I can imagine taking up the offer, might be the Labor clubs, swindling an easy ‘donation’

what? I don’t think you are trying

PJ’s in Tuggers, OJ’s, whatever the Marran is now called, All bar nun (or whatever it’s called) Pj’s civic, O’malley’s, Kingston pub, Civic Pub, kingo (kingston), the basement, Vikings, the Irish, Southern cross club, the george (bungendore), George harcourt.

Other clubs that might take offer include the Burns club and the Irish, Soccer clubs, Eastlake, Ainslie. This was aimed at the non multi facility clubs unlike Vikings, Southern Cross clubs and the Labour clubs.

Although the Wig and Pen doesn’t host live music, I’d happily add it to any list for a great place to socialise, etc.