Poker Machines Canberra
When Casino Canberra opened in the early ’90s, it was one of the more unique casinos in Australia and probably the world. It came under very strict regulations, and as such was not able to offer poker machines to visitors. Poker machines at Casino Canberra Slots, called pokies in Australia, are synonymous with casino gambling. They dominate the main floors of Crown Casino in Melbourne and Perth, The Star in Sydney, The Treasury in Brisbane, Adelaide Casino – every major gaming venue in the country. Casino Canberra is the sole exception. Canberra's gaming behemoths have reaped millions of dollars in discounts on future redevelopments after cashing in on an ACT government scheme to cut the number of poker machine authorisations to 4000. Clubs have surrendered 934 poker machines, at a cost of about $14 million. The ACT Government is set to embark on the largest poker machine reduction in Canberra's history by allowing clubs to trade machines. Since the beginning of 2013 clubs with more than one venue were able to transfer poker machines within their club network.
| Casino Canberra | |
|---|---|
| Location | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
| Address | 21 Binara St, Canberra ACT 2601 |
| Opening date | 29 July 1994 |
| Casino type | Land |
| Owner | Aquis Group |
| Operating license holder | Casino Canberra Limited |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: 35°17′00″S149°08′04″E / 35.2833°S 149.1344°E |
| Website | casinocanberra.com.au |
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Casino Canberra (or Canberra Casino) is a casino located in the Central Business District of Canberra, the capital city of Australia. It was the first legal casino to open in the Australian Capital Territory, built on land excised from Glebe Park under a 99-year lease agreement between the casino licensee and the territory government. It is small in comparison with other casinos in Australia and does not incorporate any hotel accommodation, theatres, auditoriums or retail stores. It is the only casino in Australia not licensed to operate poker machines. There are 39 gaming tables where blackjack, roulette, baccarat and other games are played. The casino also has a poker lounge and sports lounge with TAB facilities.[1]
History[edit]
Following permission from the Federal Government to issue a casino licence and despite strong opposition from Dr Hector Kinloch of the Residents Rally, Casinos Austria International was selected by the ACT Government as the preferred operator on 31 January 1992. A subsidiary company, Casino Canberra Limited was formed for this purpose. In exchange for the licence, Casinos Austria paid $19 million up front for lease of the land and an annual $500,000 licensing fee. A temporary casino began operation on 14 November 1992 at the National Convention Centre. The permanent casino opened on 29 July 1994. Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke and the ACT Chief Minister Rosemary Follett were among the guests at the large opening party hosted by Dr Leo Walner, then head of Casinos Austria. Bob Hawke was the winner of the golden roulette ball that was used for the first spin of the roulette wheel in the temporary casino.
The Aquis Group controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Tony Fung acquired the casino in 2014.[2]
Licence restrictions[edit]
Casino Canberra holds the only licence to operate gambling tables in the Australian Capital Territory. Unlike other Australian casinos, it cannot operate poker machines. The casino has previously tried unsuccessfully to lobby the territory government to remove restrictions that prevent it from installing poker machines. These attempts have failed, in part due to concerns from Canberra's clubs, which fear loss of revenue from their own poker machines. Amendments to the Casino Control Act (2006) which would allow the casino to operate poker machines have been unsuccessfully moved in the legislative assembly on two occasions. In March 2013, it was reported by The Canberra Times, amid concerns about its ongoing viability, that the casino was willing to hand back land to the government that would allow the National Convention Centre to be expanded, and pay upfront fees in exchange for licensing rights for 200 machines.[3]
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In May 2016, following submission of a proposal to massively redevelop the Casino site in exchange for the right to possess 500 poker machine licences, an in-principal agreement was reached with the Chief Minister Andrew Barr. The agreement centred on the possible use of 200 poker machines but only after redevelopment had been completed and only if the poker machine licences were purchased from owners of existing machines under the poker machine cap.[4][5]
References[edit]
- ^'Casino Canberra's contribution to the ACT economy'(PDF). Ernst & Young. March 2006. Archived from the original(PDF) on 29 October 2013.
- ^Aquis acquires Canberra casino News. 23 December 2014
- ^Hannaford, Scott (10 March 2013). 'Casino land plan unlikely to pay out'. The Canberra Times.
- ^Times, The Canberra (6 May 2016). 'Barr cleverly steps around casino pokies ban'. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^Lawson, Kirsten (10 May 2016). 'Canberra casino secures 200 poker machines'. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
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