40 Poker Machines
895 Dandenong Road, Malvern East 3145 Tel: 9571 2154
City of Stonington.
Licensed to Tabcorp.
2006 VCGR Community Benefit Statement 1st Report
2006 VCGR Community Benefit Statement 2nd Report
2005 VCGR Community Benefit Statement
VCGR Inquiries or Hearings; 23 December 2004 decision Please refer to comments and photographs below.

Pokie Loss History
2005/06 pokie losses were $1,199,225 at $29,981 per pokie
2006/07 pokie losses were $1,682,685 at $42,067 per pokie
2007/08 pokie losses were $1,548,404 at $38,710 per pokie
2008/09 pokie losses were $1,698,674 at $42,467 per pokie

9 April 2008 Inspection Notes:

'Cannot Win' talker signs
All signs except 1 were placed so as to be visible when looking into the video play face. Near best practice.

Visibility of ATM from Gaming Room
Yes. Located in Dandenong Road entrance. A wooden screen has been built around the ATM. On the wall next to the screen is a large sign with the words "ATM Here" and a picture depicting a card about to be inserted into an ATM.

Distance of ATM from nearest pokie
19 paces

Visible posting of availability of Self-Exclusion facility
None. Old gaming authority (not the VCGR) rules were posted on wall.Other wall postings include a sign promoting that "$63,076 Jackpots were won at this venue last month", 2 signs for VIP Cash Night every Thursday, 2 signs in the bistro "Join Now" to become a member at the Racecourse Hotel, and a ceiling drop down in the gaming room that $100 would be the prize on VIP night.

Number of Player Information Posters
3

Eating in Gaming Room
Yes. Large sign over bar "Sandwiches $4.00"

Coffee / Tea service in Gaming Room
Yes.

Visibility from Bistro Area
The two rooms are divided only by a 1.5 metre high divider with a light transparent material. There is a wide area with no door. Pokies noise is clearly audible.

Kid's Play Area
No.

Do not leave children in vehicle signs/notices
Both entrances to the gaming area had signs. The entrance to the TAB did not. This could be indicative of an attitude of minimal compliance.

General Comments
Read the story about the 6 April 2008 robbery at the Racecourse Hotel here.
The Tabaret "Can You Feel It" pokie reserve signs were being utilised. These signs could imply that continued play somehow raises the odd of winning.

The hotel is located across Dandenong Road from the Caulfield campus of Monash University.
This was the subject of some consideration in the 2004 decision to allow pokies at the Racecourse Hotel. The intentions of the applicant whose principal was Mr. Bruce Mathieson was that the hotel would be re-aligned to appeal to an older audience.The VCGR made many findings. Set out below is their statement about the proximity of student housing to the hotel:

"THE PROXIMITY OF THE SUBJECT VENUE TO STUDENT HOUSING
95 Stonnington also relied, in its submission, upon the close proximity between the Racecourse Hotel and student housing, which is being built nearby. Two blocks of student apartments are located in Waverley Road almost immediately adjoining the hotel. There was evidence that another block is about to be built behind the hotel, and a fourth block is located less than 100 kilometres away.
96 The existence of this student accommodation would be a very major issue, but for the determination of the hotel management to change the nature of the entertainment to be offered at the hotel. Certainly, if the type of live entertainment offered were to continue, we would have great reservation about the application, not only because of the close proximity of the student housing but because of the likelihood that students might continue to be attracted from the campus itself.

97 Consideration of this issue is inextricably intertwined with the major issue relating to the likelihood that students from Monash will engage in gaming upon EGM’s, to a greater extent than present, if this application is granted. We have reached the conclusion that no such
probability can be established, so we are not persuaded that the
positioning of the student housing of itself would be a basis for the
Commission to find a net economic or social disadvantage in accordance with the legislation."

Also relevant is this conclusion by the VCGR on page 41:

"On this occasion the Commission has been impressed by the evidence of Mr Mathieson, that if the application is granted the applicant would give undertakings in order that the Commission could be assured that the current live entertainment and disc jockey, aimed at younger persons, would cease and the focus of the entertainment would change to an older more mature market. We have determined to adopt the applicant’s undertaking as an important safeguard, notwithstanding our finding that any link between gambling problems in young adults and proximity to gambling venues is tenuous. The decision to grant the application is made conditional upon the applicant lodging, within fourteen days of the date of this decision, an undertaking in the terms In the matter of Racecourse Hotel Pty Ltd described above. It is to be noted that this condition would be binding on the present applicant and any subsequent operator of the venue."

Please note the photograph which displays the entertainment being offered at the Racecourse Hotel.This decision might be considered to present practices at the Berwick Inn. See photographs on the Berwick Inn PokieWatch page.

21 June 2008 Inspection Notes:

'Cannot Win' talker signs
All signs were placed so as to be visible when looking into the video play face. Best practice.

Visibility of ATM from Gaming Room
Yes. Located in Dandenong Road entrance. Top of ATM visible.

Visible posting of availability of Self-Exclusion facility
None. Venue Operators Code of Practice posted which does not mention self-exclusion. Out of date VCGA poster remains.

Number of Player Information Posters
5

Coffee / Tea service in Gaming Room
Yes. Observed venue staff serving woman while she gambled at her pokie.

Visibility from Bistro Area
The two rooms are divided only by a 1.5 metre high divider with a light transparent material. There is a wide area with no door. Pokies noise is clearly audible.

External Clocks on walls
There was a clock behind the bar.

Posters in Pokie Room that promote non gambling activities
Aimed towards people emerging from the smoker's area was a lit poster about being an informed gambler.
3 x VIP nights on Thursday. Guess that this encourages becoming a member of their loyalty program. 1 on ceiling, 1 on wall and 1 in a lit box.
Uses "You Can Feel It" Tabaret reserved posters.

General Comments
1. External advertising shows change in marketing of the venue. It seems to be more youth orientated contrary to undertakings given to the VCGR referred to above.
2. Venue staff asked what I was doing and then asked me to leave. "Security Reasons". I provided my name and mobile number. Offered to show (twice) notes that I had taken. She watched as I took photographs outside.