I say 'thank god' for poker machines. They bumped up the price of our pub when we sold it. The buyers were only after the pokie licences. As soon as they brought the pub, they shifted them out of town, delicensed the Hotel, and sold it off to people who are, in the long run, going to use it as a Steak House.
The town was 'overstocked' with pubs. Fifteen years ago there were 7 pubs, four Clubs, 2 Licenced Supermarkets, a Winery. After a couple of Hotel fires, plus the delicensing of our pub, there are now just four pubs, two fully operating Clubs and the Winery. This for a population of 3000...
It is amazing how things change. When Jack Argent and his group of the time built the PLC it was seen as necessary for the Club to compete.
Now it seems the PLC is there for the Club to survive.
As for poker machines, I know how they are 'slanted for the house'. There would not be as many in Clubs if they were there for the 'players'. We had one customer (he's dead now) who used to put his whole wages through the machines. It was no good telling him not to play them. He would walk across the road and play them at the Club. He was in denial. He had some big wins, but we got it all back, plus some in the long run. But he accepted it. I often asked him if he wanted to be 'excluded, but he didn't. He was a single bloke, who owned his own house and car - it was his choice to play them and who am I to tell another person how to spend their money.
(RIP Poor old Bob, great mate, a good bloke who was well liked by all who knew him.)