Bendigo RSL is planning a $1.25 million upgrade which would include a “sophisticated, modern” facade and 12 new poker machines.
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The Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch says its share of the revenue from the new pokies – up to about $130,000 in the first year – would help fund a major upgrade of the Bendigo Soldiers Memorial Institute and better support veterans.
Managing director of NBA group – the applicant on behalf of Bendigo RSL – Nick Anderson, said the proposal included an extensive social and economic impact statement which found the new gaming machines would not have a detrimental impact on the local community.
Mr Anderson said the revenue generated from the proposal would also fund a new RSL welfare officer and allow for better monitoring of the gaming room, which would hold a total of 93 pokies.
But Salvation Army captain Jason Davies-Kildea said that would all come at the expense of society’s most vulnerable.
“Those arguments don’t work for me,” the Salvation Army manager of state-wide policy said.
“They don’t match my experience and the experiences of those working with people who have gambling addictions.
“The number of machines always makes a difference – they are designed to take 90 per cent of the money you play, every time, and over time that means significant losses for people.
“Every machine does make a difference and they can’t put enough back into the community to make up for that.
“We don’t need any more poker machines, anywhere in Victoria.”
The RSL is currently seeking approval for 12 new pokies from the state gaming regulator.
A hearing date with the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation is set for tomorrow.
Its application to the City of Greater Bendigo – lodged earlier this month – would allow for the internal works to accommodate the new machines.
But Mr Anderson said the $1.25 million refurbishment was about more than new pokies.
“It’s a significant internal overhaul and would create additional office space to enable the RSL to increase its welfare office and employ additional welfare staff to assist members and veterans,” he said.
“It would also include a large new kids’ play area and other enhancements.”
However the application comes at a time when three federal politicians are calling on gambling insiders to leak industry secrets about pokies.
Captain Davies-Kildea said he “absolutely backed” the ‘Pokie-Leaks’ campaign.
“A lot of the information around pokies has been hidden from the public and instead it is presented as a game of chance,” he said.
“But there is nothing of luck about them – they are machines which are designed to make people lose money.
“Any information which helps people better understand the nature of poker machines, and the way they are essentially designed to feed of people who are already vulnerable, is a good thing.”