Camperdown Bowling Club scraps poker machines

Camperdown Bowling Club will become the second club in the inner west to become pokie free after Marrickville Council voted in favor of allowing Canterbury Hurlstone RSL to lead the club’s refurbishment.

As part of Canterbury Hurlstone RSL’s plan to rejuvenate the club, it will eliminate all poker machines.

The move comes in the wake of state greens senator John Kaye’s upper house inquiry into gambling last month that recommends tightening of existing laws to reduce access to poker machines in low-income areas.

Greens Councillor Sylvie Ellsmore said last week that the change is an important step toward addressing gambling problems in the local community.

“After an extensive tender process council has been able to secure a licensee who can upgrade and re-open the Camperdown Bowling Club; with better food, recreation activities, social events, and rejuvenation of at least one of the bowling greens. And, importantly, no poker machines.”

The no poker machine policy has been a sticking point for the site since Marrickville Council voted in favour of removing all gaming machines from the sites that it owns and/or operates.

Cr Ellsmore points to the nearby Petersham Bowling Club that successfully operates without revenue from poker machines.

President of Petersham Bowling Club, Mark Lucas, says his club has been going from strength to strength since its refurbishment.

“It’s been seven or so years since we moved the poker machines out of our little club and I think we have proven to everyone that there is another business model that doesn’t involves gambling which can be a great place to be and also make a contribution to the wider community.”

He is happy about the decision other clubs are making in terms of removing poker machines. He believes he owes some of the clubs’ no pokie success to the general inner west demographic.

“I think things have changed, the demographic in the inner west is younger, well-educated and there are a lot of professional people that aren’t into sitting down for the evening and pouring their money into poker machines.”

Marrickville Mayor Jo Haylen agreed.

“Council wants to reduce problem gambling and limit gambling opportunities in Council-owned venues. We believe this also reflects the wishes of the local population, which tends to be progressive, compassionate, and community-minded.”

With the lease signed, it is believed development of upgrades existing site will be underway in 2015, subject to development approval.