Sydney pubs seek extended hours for pokies lounges

Pubs and clubs in Sydney are seeking an exemption from New South Wales’ 1.30 am closure laws to boost revenue from gambling, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing confirmed it is assessing six applications from venues in the central business district.

Great Southern Hotel licensee Patrick Aley told the newspaper that opening the pokies lounge between 1.30am and 5am would boost the venue's "razor thin" profit margin, even though patrons would not be able to buy alcohol.

"The gaming is how we make our money. People who play the pokies, that's when a lot of them play,” he said.

NSW pockets more than a billion dollars in tax revenue from the pokies each year, it said.

 

Latest Intelligence

Latest issue

PATA CEO sees slow recovery, but optimism for future

AGB Podcasts