41 Poker Machines
635 High Street, Preston 3072 Tel: 9471 4811
City of Darebin.
Licensed to Tattersall's.
2006 VCGR Community Benefit Statement 1st Report
2006 VCGR Community Benefit Statement 2nd Report
2005 VCGR Community Benefit Statement

Pokie Loss History
2005/06 pokie losses were $4,982,153 at $121,516 per pokie
2006/07 pokie losses were $5,160,590 at $125,868 per pokie
2007/08 pokie losses were $4,820,157 at $117,565 per pokie
2008/09 pokie losses were $4,849,592 at $118,283 per pokie

25 March 2008 Inspection Notes:

'Cannot Win' talker signs
4 placed on top box so as not to be visible when looking into the video play face.

Visibility of ATM from Gaming Room
No. ATM was out of order with notice on it as follows: "Regular Customers See Bar Staff Gaming". This implies cheques cashing or cash advances might be available.

Distance of ATM from nearest pokie
6 paces

Visible posting of availability of Self-Exclusion facility
None

Number of Player Information Posters
Four

Eating in Gaming Room
Yes. Large free standing poster promoting that a snack menu was available all hours.

Coffee / Tea service in Gaming Room
Yes. "Complimentary All Day"

Visibility from Bistro Area
Not tallied.

Kid's Play Area
No. Do not leave children in vehicle signs/notices In car park and on entrance shown. Not High Street.

General Comments
No windows in gaming area.
The City of Darebin has created a Charter of Responsible Poker Machine Gambling. You can download it here from the City's website or view the attachment at the bottom of this wiki page.
The City also published a report on Pokie Free Places which you can download here from the City's website.

Email received from Ted - 7 May 2008

Hi, whilst I acknowledge and agree with your website in keeping companies or businesses honest. I live and have worked in the Northern Suburbs for years so was interested in reading on the pubs in the North. I have frequented the Albion Charles, Moreland, Croxton, Preston, Cramers and so on. So I decided to read a few and since I have been into the Preston Hotel since the report has been done I observed it as well.
Therefore, I looked at your pokiewatch inspection checklist. I noticed that they have a new ATM recently installed. However, the questionnaire only asks to comment on whether it is visible from any Gaming Machine and it is not. On the 25th of March 08 your observer chose to comment below:
Visibility of ATM from Gaming Room
No. ATM was out of order with notice on it as follows: "Regular Customers See Bar Staff Gaming". This implies cheques cashing or cash advances might be available.
So the comment your observer made is then an ASSUMPTION, he/she states No it cannot be seen from any machine. Whilst the ATM which was always malfunction to the frustration of patrons and staff, had a sign on it stating "Regular Customers See Bar Staff" this does not in anyway imply what is then written above. I think this comment should be changed. The observer should approach the staff and ask what this means before making comments like that.
Self Exclusion is on the right hand of the cashier window with phone numbers and the ALH David Swartz Gambling Awareness Posters.
Therefore, I agree with what work your site is doing it should stick to the facts and observers are not always right and before publishing everything you could always make up follow up calls to the hotels.
Thanks
Ted

2 September 2008 Inspection Notes:

Regulation 17 player information talker signs
4 placed above credit line. Remainder placed so that bottom of sign is in line with the credit line. A few were placed so that the bottom of the sign lined up with the top of the animated reels.

Visibility of ATM from Gaming Room
ATM located inside the Spencer Street entrance. A drape shields the ATM from visibility.

Distance of ATM from nearest pokie
7 paces

Visible posting of availability of Self-Exclusion facility
None

Number of Player Information Posters
5

Coffee / Tea service in Gaming Room
Yes. "Complimentary All Day". Observed gambler drinking coffee while gambling at his pokie.

Visibility from Bistro Area
Yes. Room is wide open to the pokies area.

Clocks on wall
Placed on pillar in front of cashier

Gambler's Help Notice/Cards in Toilet
No poster. Cards. Reg 17 Talker

Posters in gaming room
10 x gambling posters. Many in the area next to the cashier. Large poster promoting that $49,150 had been won in jackpots in the last month.
1 x Morning Tea. 1 x complimentary coffee for "Patrons Playing Gaming Machines. All Day Every Day

General Comments
Poster on exterior of the building promotes "Try our Coffee and Sandwiches in Lounge Bar". The Lounge Bar is located between the gaming room and the TAB room. TAB room has a door. The pokies area is wide open. The reality is that it is one room. When entering the venue (given the bait of the external promotion) the visitor sees the gaming room to the left with a poster for complimentary coffee while playing machines. This appears to be a lower income area.

18 November 2009 Inspection Notes:

Regulation 17 player information talker signs
#9 had no sign. Another was on the top box. Balance ranged from intersection with top animated reel to the credit line

Location of ATM
Yes. Loacted in shared TAB/Pokie entrance.

Distance of ATM from nearest pokie
8 paces. Can be seen from a number of pokies inside the pokie area.

Visible posting of availability of Self-Exclusion facility
1 x card holder with cards.

Number of Player Information Posters
4

Eating in gaming area
Yes. Snack menu on all pokies.

Visibility from Bistro Area
No dining area. TAB next to pokies.

Clocks on wall
Behind cashier.

Gambler's Help Notice/Cards in Toilet
Poster with 2 x card holders.

Posters in gaming room
2 x platinum jackpots, 4 x posters promoting membership, Banyule sponsored poster on exit.

PID Observations
#5 1¢ Geisha. RTP 88.77 Jackpot .90 Plays per win 8.71

Observations
Venue has been extensively renovated. It has an adult orientation with pokies / TAB and public bar. New wall treatments. Changed exterior colour. No child appeal.