Woolworths and their Licensed Hotel interests are systematically sucking the life out of Australia one community at a time through their 13,500+ pokie machines scattered across 328 Hotels and Licensed Venues. Now however it seems they’ve stepped up their campaigns and are attacking communities from multiple (hotel) fronts.
When $50 Million Is Not Enough
Woolworths and the ALH Group already take $50 million from the residents of Whittlesea each and every year… but in the typical greedy manner in which corporations act, they are now pushing for another 40 pokies at yet another South Morang Pub.
A few days ago our friends over at RSLPokies.com revealed how the Woolworths group are planning on targeting children in their pubs and shared some frightening revelations about the groups plans moving forward (Let’s just say that are NOT in the best interest of the country or individuals!) Well it seems our good friends overs at Woolworths the Fuck You Australia People are at it again, this time however they’ve decided to go and pick on an old friend again…
Woolworths Vs. Whittlesea
Woolworths & The Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALHG) –
“Let’s Install another 40 Pokies into South Morang and then Whittle’ See how bad we fuck the community”
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) –
“Haha sure thing, we LOVE approving requests for more pokies, in fact we approve over 94% of applications!”
Common Sense, Reasoning and The Good People of Whittlesea –
Woolworths venues already take over $50 million in pokies losses from Whittlesea, they don't need more. This is money which will leave our neighbourhood and won't come back.
Woolworths Monopoly?
The ALHG owns 305 machines across 3 licensed hotels in the Whittlesea area, including Mill Park's Plough Hotel, the Bundoora Hotel, and the Excelsior Hotel in Thomastown.
These same 3 Hotels accounted for almost half of the $111 million lost by gamblers at the city of Whittlesea's 10 pokies venues in the 2015/16 financial year.
$275,000 Lost Every Day in Whittlesea!
Whittlesea Mayor Stevan Kozmevski said the municipality already had 691 machines which claimed $275,000 each day.
Poker machines have a terrible impact on our community and there are very clear links between poker machine losses and social problems including increased crime and family breakdown, Cr Kozmevski said.
These losses are not surprising as the poker machines are programmed to con €” every push of a poker machine (button) is fixed so that users lose money.
Commercial Hotel manager Natalee Melaney or ALHG representatives could not be reached for comment.
The Same (sad) Old Story
This is not the first time Whittlesea residents have had to stand up against the Hotels and the VCGLR, as these two articles clearly show:
- 2013 – Posters likening gambling to smoking are popping up across Melbourne's north as part of a new Whittlesea Interagency Taskforce on Gambling – See Article in Star Weekly
- Whittlesea council has refused to issue a permit for another 20 poker machines for the Bridge Inn in Mernda. – See Article in Star Weekly
- See original source article and followup resources by visiting this article on the HeraldSun.com.au