In the end, the council really had little choice but to say no.

Successive councils have long held the view that that the overall net economic and social impact of electronic gaming machines upon the community is negative, and therefore it has decided to advise the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation that the council does not support the application.

To its credit, and in an effort to garner the views of people living in the vicinity of the hotel, the council sought out the views of nearby residents via a survey.

Significantly, more than 74 per cent of respondents said they did not want poker machines at the Foundry Hotel.

Supporters of electronic gaming machines maintain they are a source of employment and that it is only a minority of gamblers who would be categorised as problem gamblers.

It must also be said that few would-be operators have gone as far as the management of the Foundry Hotel has to try and appease concerns about the perceived impact of poker machines upon the community.

But in the end, it was not enough to convince the City of Greater Bendigo that the application for 30 poker machines should be supported.

What do you think? Write a letter to the editor, or e-mail editor@bendigoadvertiser. com.au