BendigoWeekly www.bendigoweekly.com.au
ISSUE 1026 FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017
Branson backs Sun Loong 750 BENDIGO was very much in the limelight at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday as Sir Richard Branson launched a new Virgin Australia service from Hong Kong. What’s more, he pledged support for Bendigo’s new Imperial dragon, Dai Gum Loong.
LOW STAKES – Story Page 4
By SHARON KEMP
BENDIGO’S electronic gaming machines losses are continuing to decline, despite an increase in the number of poker machines installed at 11 venues across the city. Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation data to the end of May shows gamblers in Bendigo splurged more than $44 million on electronic gaming machines, a decrease of more than $760,000 compared to the previous year, despite there being more ma-
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Photo: BILL CONROY
More pokies, but spend drops
chines available than ever before. The number of gaming machines in Bendigo rose from 629 to 641 in February, and since then, punters have lost more than $15,289,329, still $337,000 less than the same period in 2015/2016 and almost $367,000 less than in the same period during 2014/2015. The $3.459m spent on electron-
ic gaming machines in February came as local gamblers got access to 12 extra machines, and there is an application with the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation for 44 more. The reason for the decline in gaming was likely to be tighter household budgets because of Christmas credit card repayments
NBNco aims to improve – Page 5
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and higher power bills, according to Bendigo Stadium chairman Brendon Goddard. “But there is still enough of the cake to share around,” he said. Bendigo Stadium’s application to refurbish and install machines 44 additional machines at the Wellington at Botanical Gardens Hotel in White Hills was heard by the
VCGLR on Tuesday. Mr Goddard said the commission had five weeks in which to make a decision and he “will be waiting with bated breath” for the result. The City of Greater Bendigo council voted to oppose the application based on a social and economic impact statement it commissioned, and which concluded the risk of gambling-related harm would outweigh any social or economic benefit. Continued Page 6
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