24-Hour Pokies Update

The City of Greater Geelong (COGG) and the proprietor of the Sphinx Entertainment Centre in North Geelong have reached an ‘out of tribunal’ settlement of their battle in the Liquor Control Commission. To their credit, COGG had appealed to the Full Bench of the Commission against the extension of the Sphinx’s licence from 20 to 24 hours. In the first stage of the appeal, the commission had ruled, contrary to the submission of counsel for the Sphinx, that the ‘community interest’ provision of the relevant Act did empower it to hear gambling-related objections to licence applications. The case was adjourned to a later date when such evidence relating to the Sphinx would be heard. In the meantime, however, COGG and the proprietor of the Sphinx reached a compromise on which COGG would discontinue the appeal if the Sphinx limited its hours to 22 instead of 24. COGG thus achieved a 2-hour safety valve, forcing gamblers to leave the machines, at the cost of a 2-hour extension in opening hours. The temptation to go for the full 24 hours could arise again, however, so we will keep a watch on it.