Pokies are Less Profitable in Clubs

Across Australia, clubs are the most popular venues for pokie players – but, casinos are more profitable. According to a new study by the University of Adelaide, pokies that are located in casinos make more money than those in clubs and hotels.

The study, commissioned by Gambling Research Australia, found that the average poker machine in Australian clubs brings in $59 400 – which is less than half of the $128 600 that is generated by pokies in casinos.

These findings have been released at a crucial time for Canberra’s clubs market. Recently, club owners across the ACT have expressed their opposition to adding new pokies to Casino Canberra as part of a multimillion-dollar renovation. This news could be used in their argument that including pokies at the venue would be harmful to players.  However, the research team states that the much high profit is due to the longer operating hours of casinos and the fact that they see more visitors than the average club.

“Evidence that gamblers spend more on each pokie in larger venues is not evidence that large venues are more dangerous than local clubs/hotels,” the report reads.

On the other hand, Casino Canberra’s owners could also use this information to its benefit. Since pokies bring in more money when they are located in casinos, the local community would benefit more from the revenue of casino pokies than they would from club pokies.

The clubs industry continues to fight against the inclusion of pokies at Casino Canberra – but, the local government has yet to make a decision. It will likely be a few months before a consensus is reached. In the meantime, we will keep you updated about any developments.