RSL to surrender its poker machines in Oakleigh - VCGLR

Media release
For immediate release
Tuesday August 4, 2009
RSL to surrender its poker
machines in Oakleigh
Sixteen more poker machines will be allowed at the Matthew Flinders
Taverner, Warrigal Road, Chadstone, five fewer than were sought.
This also means a cut of 20 machines in Monash and the closing of one
gaming venue.
Announcing its decision today, the Victorian Commission for Gambling
Regulation (VCGR) said that the Matthew Flinders Taverner had had the
biggest cut in the number of machines in the State - from 105 to 59 - when
the second round of regional caps were implemented in 2007.
Following a public hearing in June 2009, gaming will end at the Oakleigh
RSL in return for a payment of $400,000 to the Victorian RSL and $4000
monthly to help the RSL sub-branch survive and work with an adjoining
veterans' centre.
The VCGR said this would reduce the density of machines around the
Oakleigh RSL and, in all likelihood, the number of gamblers.
The decision also requires the Mountain View Hotel, Glen Waverley, to lose
15 machines and the Oakleigh Junction Hotel to lose one, keeping 46.
The VCGR said that the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH),
owners of the Matthew Flinders Taverner, paid an "extremely modest"
amount to the local community and individual managers have a limited
discretion to make donations.
Now it will pay $25,000 a year to the Monash Council for a part-time
financial counsellor for problem gamblers.

The ALH's responsible gambling ambassador, former football star David
Schwarz, told the hearing of his background as a reformed longtime
gambler. He said he works to educate staff to help those who may have
difficulty with gambling. Intervention sometimes stopped a gambler
playing, he said.
Schwarz said he helps staff at ALH venues make better judgments on
detecting and understanding the behaviour of potential problem gamblers.
The VCGR said ALH gave an impressive picture of its active role with
problem gambling.
The VCGR said the change would mean an increase in annual gambling
spending of only $1 for each adult living in Monash, taking the figure to
$938.
Monash Council opposed the application.
For the full text of this decision please go to the VCGR website,
www.vcgr.vic.gov.au>Inquiries and Hearings
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