Amazing Pokies http://www.amazingpokies.com Free Play Amazing Pokies en-us Fri, 18 May 12 22:03:36 -0600 Fri, 18 May 12 22:03:36 -0600 http://www.amazingpokies.com/rss.php AgaresWriter 2.1 Govt damaged itself over pokies: Wilkiehttp://www.amazingpokies.com/article-18-Govt-damaged-itself-over-pokies-Wilkie.html AAP

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie says the federal government damaged itself by backing out of its agreement with him to pursue poker machine reforms.

Mr Wilkie said he continued to disagree with government claims that it lacked the numbers to push through proposed reforms to poker machines to limit problem gambling.

"I think this has done the government a bit of damage because it has been seen not to honour an agreement with me and not to try everything it could have done to have honoured that agreement," he told Sky News.


"The govern ]]> February 10th, 2012 04:20 AM Pokie machines to stay at Flinders St station http://www.amazingpokies.com/article-17-Pokie-machines-to-stay-at-Flinders-St-station.html

Clocks pokies Flinders St

The entrance to Clocks at Flinders St station. Picture: Jon Hargest Herald Sun &l ]]> February 10th, 2012 04:18 AM The Politics Of Pokieshttp://www.amazingpokies.com/article-16-The-Politics-Of-Pokies.html http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-23/the-politics-of-pokies/3788910


It's been a busy week of political talk surrounding the issue of poker machine reform and now that independent MP Andrew Wilkie has withdrawn his support for the Government, where does that leave the issue?


]]> January 30th, 2012 10:51 AM Pokies make mega-profits out of miseryhttp://www.amazingpokies.com/article-15-Pokies-make-mega-profits-out-of-misery.html This quote is not from independent MP Andrew Wilkie, or “No Pokies” Nick Xenophon.

It is from the 1974 Royal Commission into Gambling, Western Australia.

Almost four decades ago, WA took far more stringent poker machine reform measures than those scuttled by the Gillard government in breaking its deal with W ]]> January 30th, 2012 10:50 AM Warrnambool pub gets pokies approvalhttp://www.amazingpokies.com/article-14-Warrnambool-pub-gets-pokies-approval.html The approval is a major step forward for developers planning an $800,000 revamp of Rafferty's Tavern to turn it into a major family dining area and convention venue.

Now they await the final approval step of a planning permit decision by Warrnambool City Council expected late September.

Detailed reasons for the VCGR decision will not be released for another fortnight, but developer partner Peter Cook told The Standard yesterday the gaming licence had been approved on socio-economic grounds.

"We are very happy with the dec ]]> August 26th, 2011 02:15 PM Push for fewer pokieshttp://www.amazingpokies.com/article-13-Push-for-fewer-pokies.html Council will lobby the state government to reduce electronic gaming machines in Ballarat from 663 to the state average of 454.

Councillor Des Hudson said council needed to have a “robust conversation” with the state government over cutting back poker machines in the city.

“We have 13 gaming venues with 663 machines,” Cr Hudson said.

“We need to have a conversation with the Minister for Gaming to partner with the City of Ballarat to reduce it by 209 machines to get back to the state average.

&l ]]> August 26th, 2011 02:11 PM Casino jobs warning over pokies banhttp://www.amazingpokies.com/article-12-Casino-jobs-warning-over-pokies-ban.html BY MEGAN DOHERTY CITY REPORTER
26 Aug, 2011 12:00 AM
The international owners of Casino Canberra are threatening to cut some of its 300 staff or reduce its opening hours if the ACT Government does not allow poker machines in the venue.

Casinos Austria director-general Karl Stoss and authorised officer Alexander Tucek flew from the company headquarters in Vienna to personally lobby ACT Treasurer Andrew Barr yesterday.

Dr Stoss said he did not see a future for the Canberra Casino without poker machines but could not say how much longer it could survive wi ]]> August 26th, 2011 02:09 PM Pokie spending rises in Bendigohttp://www.amazingpokies.com/article-11-Pokie-spending-rises-in-Bendigo.html The figure equates to more than $560 per adult within the City of Greater Bendigo.

Punters injected $1.28 million more into the city˘s machines than the previous financial year.

Bendigo˘s faith-based service providers spokesman Matthew Parkinson said he was disappointed spending on the pokies had risen after a drop during the previous financial year.

“I am a little surprised when we consider the retail sector is struggling and the gloom and doom talk around the world with a possible global financial crisis,” he said.

“It is another $1.28 million co ]]> August 14th, 2011 01:53 AM Politicians join pokie battlehttp://www.amazingpokies.com/article-10-Politicians-join-pokie-battle.html Mr Xenophon, a qualified lawyer, has offered to represent the community pro bono at a hearing in Adelaide on August 29 to defend against the poker machine application.

“It really is a test case in the effectiveness of new pokies laws which take into account social impact.”

He said pokies would suck away money from the community, killing jobs and increasing the level of economic hardship in Andamooka.

“It will be a net drain on the community.

“The only ones who will win are the local pub and the state government.& ]]> August 14th, 2011 01:52 AM Pubs making profits with pokieshttp://www.amazingpokies.com/article-9-Pubs-making-profits-with-pokies.html THE state's top 10 pokie pubs are raking in a combined $1.6 million in profit from the machines a week - making them one of the most lucrative ways to make money without breaking the law.

The 10 hotels made a staggering profit of $20 million in the three months to March with the El Cortez Hotel at Canley Heights, in