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

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