Version User Scope of changes
Jul 24 2009, 12:10 PM EDT EGM-Watch 9 words added
Mar 27 2009, 4:32 AM EDT EGM-Watch 2 words added, 1 word deleted

Changes

Key:  Additions   Deletions
Highpoint Shopping Centre - Road signHighpoint Shopping Centre - Mall sign for Pokies PlusHighpoint Tavern - Mall locationHighpoint Tavern - Mall entrance advertisingHighpoint Tavern - Mall location 2Highpoint Tavern - mall entranceHighpoint Tavern - mall entrance detailHighpoint Tavern - entrance warnings70 Poker Machines
Rosamond Road, Maribyrnong 3032 Tel: 9317 9466
City of Maribyrnong.
Licensed to Tabcorp.
Tavern Website
2006 VCGR Community Benefit Statement
2005 VCGR Community Benefit Statement
VCGR determination in April 2005 , July 2007 and August 2007 - Upon application the number of pokies was decreased by 5, 4 and 12 respectively. See page 5 of April 2005 pdf file, page 8 of the July 2007 and August 2007 pdfs. It seems that the reason for these reductions were to comply with regional caps.

Pokie Loss History
2005/06 pokie losses were $8,307,250 at $96,596 per pokie
2006/07 pokie losses were $8,741,862 at $101,649 per pokie
2007/08 pokie losses were $8,262,896 at $118,041 per pokie
2008/09 pokie losses were $8,435,062 at $120,501 per pokie

27 March 2008 Inspection Notes:

'Cannot Win' talker signs

All signs placed on top box so as not to be visible when looking into the video play face.

Visibility of ATM from Gaming Room
No. Placed outside TAB entrance

Distance of ATM from nearest pokie

35 paces

Visible posting of availability of Self-Exclusion facility

None

Number of Player Information Posters

8

Eating in Gaming Room

Yes. Raised area with 4 tables, 3 chairs for each.

Coffee / Tea service in Gaming Room
Yes. Observed gambler drinking coffee while playing a pokie.

Visibility from Bistro Area
There is a lounge area adjoining the gaming room. No walls divide the two areas.

Kid's Play Area
No. Observed a child likely to be under 10 years old playing a video game in the TAB (a part of the tavern) near the entrance to the gaming room.

Do not leave children in vehicle signs/notices
On entrance.

General Comments
"You Can Feel It" Tabaret reserve signs used. These signs imply that the longer one plays the better chance of a jackpot.
This pokie room is in the popular Highpoint mall. It is located between the car park and the Hoyts cinema complex next to family restaurants such as the Pancake Parlour.
Information on pokies from the City of Maribyrnong can be found here. Their 1998 submission can be found here. Their 2003-2005 Responsible Gambling plan can be found here.
The Age has published an article describing this gaming room here.

6 August 2008 Inspection Notes:


'Cannot Win' talker signs
Improvement noted. All signs now placed on the EGM. Unfortunately rather than placing them at the video face, they are placed at or above the credit line.

Visibility of ATM from Gaming Room

No. Sign in entrance points to location of the ATM.

Visible posting of availability of Self-Exclusion facility
None. David Schwarz poster on bar.

Number of Player Information Posters

7. One placed behind potted plant.

Eating in Gaming Room
Snacks menu on bar. Visibility from Pokies to the Cafe Area
These two room adjoin each other. Noise and visuals are as if they were one room.

Kid's Play Area
No. Observed a child likely to be under 10 years lying down in entrance between cafe and pokies room. A woman likely to be her mother was nearby.

Do not leave children in vehicle signs/notices This is a mall. No such signs observed in car park.

Posters in Gaming Room that promote non-gambling activities available in the venue
Poster in entrance to pokies area promotes Texas Hold 'Em and the hours of the venue. All posters promoted gambling except for win a C.C. guitar (alcohol) and "Alfie Boy - Win A Homeware Package" at Thursday between 1:30 and 2 PM. This was a large display in the rear of the gaming room. The presumption could be that one had to be at the premises to win.

General Comments
A Texas Hold 'Em tournament was being conducted at the time of inspection. This was in the Pokies Plus cafe. This area is fully open to the pokies room. In addition to woman with children noted above, observed 4 young boys come in and sit at the tables (not gamble) at the conclusion of the event. They talked with a person who seemed to be a venue staff member. All tables were filled. After the Hold 'Em competition, a large number of those gamblers entered the pokies area and gambled on the pokies.