Support for temporary closure of pokies venues and casinos due to Covid-19

17 March 2020

The Alliance for Gambling Reform has echoed calls from leading public health and addictive behaviour researchers to temporarily shut down poker machines during the declared Covid-19 pandemic.

Manningham council in Melbourne’s far east has bought the local RSL club to keep it free of poker machines and then launched a campaign to encourage 30 more municipalities to follow suit. Templestowe RSL president Ron Twinning sidelined the Returned and Services League’s Victorian branch and secretly lobbied Manningham Council to buy the. Melbourne Storm have back-flipped on their plans to get out of poker machines. Credit: Getty A planning application lodged with Wyndham City Council lists Storm as the operators of a gaming venue. Numbers in Australia Poker machine venues. Melbourne cbd, poker machine one of the biggest Dandenong - Pubs & and Southbank are unique Sitting approximately 30km games to - Pokies across Victoria at May 2018 - for free, Best with plan for out of the Melbourne for Melbourne City. The Alliance for Gambling Reform has echoed calls from leading public health and addictive behaviour researchers to temporarily shut down poker machines during the declared Covid-19 pandemic. Alliance Chief Advocate, the Rev Tim Costello, said a temporary shutdown of all electronic gaming machines (EGMs), along with casinos, was a sensible public health measure to prevent. Victoria's Gaming Venues Map. Click on a Local Government Area in the map or the text links below to access information about the gaming venues located there. Find a gaming venue in Metropolitan Melbourne. Select from the list below to go to any Country Local Government Area.

Alliance Chief Advocate, the Rev Tim Costello, said a temporary shutdown of all electronic gaming machines (EGMs), along with casinos, was a sensible public health measure to prevent further spread of the Covid-19 virus, and to prevent gambling venues from profiting from people experiencing high levels of stress.

“Poker machines by their very nature involve the repeated touching of buttons and screens on surfaces that are known to retain the virus for some time,” Rev Costello said.

“Finland has already taken the sensible public health measure of shutting down all EGMs and the casino in Helsinki.

“People experiencing stress, anxiety and financial pressure as a result of the pandemic should not also be put at risk of gambling harm by allowing gambling venues to continue to operate. Now is the time to support each other.

“During the bushfire crisis we were heartened to hear stories of some pubs turning off their poker machines, putting the community before profit in a time of need. We need that to happen again during this crisis.

“We all know prevention is better than cure at the best of times, especially now.”

Former gambler and gambling reform advocate, Anna Bardsley, said temporarily closing gambling rooms and the casino was a necessary step to prevent the spread of Covid-19, and prevent serious gambling harm.

“When I was gambling I would frequently lose track of time and get into a zone where nothing else mattered,” Ms Bardsley said. “The machines are designed to do that to you. I had no concern for my own health or the health of others while I sat in front of a poker machine. Pokies venues are a germ fest at the best of times. I was constantly sick when I was gambling in those places.

“Poker machines were a form of escape from the issues I had in my life, and that is so common. The thought of vulnerable people, especially older people and those with other risks for Covid-19, sitting in a room spreading germs, touching things and losing money to escape from these difficult times makes me incredibly sad.

“We’ve had libraries and theatres closing voluntarily because of this issue, I don’t understand why gambling venues can’t support their communities and take similar action off their own bat.

“For some people the government stepping in and temporarily closing gambling rooms while this Covid-19 pandemic is active is the only way they will be able to protect their health and limit their risk of gambling harm. There is an official State of Emergency in Victoria, with more states likely to follow soon, and unprecedented steps like these are needed to protect us all, especially the most vulnerable.”

Media contact: Rebecca Thorpe on 0491 209 436 or rebecca.thorpe@agr.org.au

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  • Rebecca Thorpe published this page 2020-03-17 13:32:17 +1100

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Melbourne is known for its vibrant nightlife and exotic dining options, but their pokies venues routinely get overlooked which are equally lucrative and welcoming. This bustling city is the heart of CBD, which opens up doors to a slew of gaming options. Victoria is a state with a passionate relationship with gambling, so it’s no surprise that the industry is booming. There’s no shortage of options, as there are over 30,000 pokies machines throughout the state. From hotels to pubs, they can be found at any late-night venue.

Packed with Authorized and Regulated Casinos

All activity falls under the Gambling Regulation Act 2003, which takes a liberal approach to gambling. To keep things fair, all venues are regulated by the Victorian Commission for Gambling & Liquor Regulation. This relentless enforcement ensures that all pokies machines pay back 87% of the money wagered. Since the playing field has been evened out, it’s prime time to gamble in Melbourne. For this reason, we have compiled a list of the best places to play pokies in the city. So, friends, get prepare to discover your next favorite venue in this punters’ paradise!

Explore Melbourne’s Best Pokies Venues

1. Crown Casino

Crown Casino is the most entertaining place to play pokies in Melbourne. Ever since this casino made its grand debut in 1997, it has taken the industry by storm. In a country that’s madly in love with pokies, this is no easy feat. They have achieved this level of popularity by offering users an unparalleled gaming experience. It’s nestled on the south bank of the Yarra River, providing the perfect backdrop to a night of elegance.

Wide range of Pokies to Play

One of the main perks of this casino is its staggering amount of options. Not to be outdone, this venue is home to over 500 table games & 2,638 pokies machines. Their impressive fleet of pokies machines are developed by the leaders of the industry. Machines created by Aristocrat, IGT, Konami & Ainsworth Gaming Technology can be found throughout the premises. Having deep ties to the industry has its benefits. Many of the pokies games offered by the Crown can’t be found online. This gives visitors an exclusive preview of games that are shaking up the industry.

To make things even more appealing, the Crown Casino enjoys some exclusive privileges. Lockout laws aren’t applied to casinos, so punters can enjoy 24/7 entertainment. While clubs, pubs & RSLs can only run their machines 20 hours a day, the Crown can go 24 hours. This perk lets punters experience something completely unique. If there’s one thing Australians can create, it’s an unforgettable casino. Treat yourself with this extraordinary opportunity.

2. The Star Casino Sydney (9 million visitors)

With great amenities and a sprawling game floor, this casino is huge enough for the average punter to have fun. Run and owned by Star Entertainment, this is the second biggest casino in Australia. You can choose between 5 fine dining restaurants, 8 grab and go food stalls, 2 nightclubs, 8 casual restaurants, and 7 bars. It also has 3 luxury hotels, 1 full-service spa, and a $100 million 3,000-seat Event Centre.

It has equally impressive gaming options. You will find all types of games here including pokies. Their 104,000 square-foot game floor is spread out over two floors, with one containing its own restaurant. It has 1,490 electronic gaming machines and 140 table games. This casino is Australia’s third most popular attraction. Every year 9 million people try their luck here.

3. The Star Gold Coast (10.6 million visitors)

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This casino has gone through a major name change, it includes all amenities without sacrificing any. Earlier known as Jupiters Casino, this casino has been attracting visitors for decades. It is one of the 6 best places to play pokies in Melbourne with its five-star accommodations range from 596 suites to private cabanas. In total, their 65,000 square-foot game floor has 1,600 pokies machines, 70 table games, and 2 poker tables. Combined with its stunning view of the beach, this casino is a great place to enjoy pokies.

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In addition, several software studios like BetSoft, Microgaming, and Net Entertainment are immensely popular for providing premium high-quality pokies content with 3D animation and graphics, stellar gameplay features, and massive progressive jackpot prizes which rivals anything you would find at a land-based casino like Crown Melbourne.

4. Pubs

Fortunately for visitors, there are hundreds of pubs scattered around Melbourne. Many are located downtown, so they aren’t hard to find. These establishments let punters enjoy a quality meal accompanied by a stiff drink while they play pokies. They can be found almost anywhere, but a few stand out. There include Batman’s Hill on Collins, Celtic Club & the Golden Nugget, Clocks at Flinders Street Station Shanghai Club, The Meeting Place are the most popular of all. Come down and experience for yourself!

5. Hotels

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Even if you get tired of flashy casinos and bustling pubs, there’s still more options for punters. There’s no reason to get dressed up if you stick to the machines at your hotel. They give punters easy access to pokies games, so take advantage of this service. Some of the favorites are Bell’s Hotel, but there are plenty of other options to choose from! You can visit The Swanston Hotel Grand Mercure, Welcome Stranger Hotel, Golden Fleece Hotel, The Bay & Bridge Hotel, The Rex and few others.

6. Playing Pokies on Mobile

Play pokies online is another option to find best pokies to play in Melbourne, sitting right at your own comfort zone. You can join top notch safe and secure as well as legit casinos that accept AUD as well as BTC to play wonderful pokies from high rated gaming developers.

Some of the reputed online sites are Fair Go Casino specially catering to Aussie punters; Rich Casino, Slotland casino, House of Jack Casino and many more. Simply pick your mobile phone, type the casino URL on your Android or iPhone browser that is Chrome or Safari or play with iPad or Kindle tablet. Enter the casino with your handset, open a casino account, and make a real time deposit to play real money pokies or play for free without any deposit. Grab awesome bonuses and spin the reels

7.P&O Cruises – Aurora

Launched in 2000, Aurora is one of the seasoned ships in the P&O Cruises armada. It was restored spending £26 million at the end of 2014 and it was the first one to convey the new uniform, including a variant of the Union Flag on its bow, and a blue channel.

This cruise features the Sindhu top-notch eatery, with an Indian-combination menu managed by Michelin-star culinary specialist Atul Kochhar, and the Glass House eatery. It also included a bar with wines chosen by TV moderator Olly Smith.

It features the smorgasbord eatery and Sidewalk Cafe which have been renovated and incorporated another Costa Coffee and Grab and Go reverse adaptable “Opportunity Dining” in the Medina Restaurant.

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This also features a casino on the cruise with an amazing deal where you can play pokies for fun.

Synopsis

There is a number of options to play pokies in Melbourne. Above listed are some o the most popular and best places to play pokies in Melbourne where you can have a great time, fun and win money also if the luck it at your side.

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