By XAVIER SMERDON
A CONTROVERSIAL application for more electronic gaming machines in Wyndham has been approved, with the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation dismissing opposition from Wyndham City Council.
The Italian Sports Club of Werribee had applied to install another 17 gaming machines on top of the 57 they already had.
On 31 January this year the application went before the council where it was opposed on the grounds that the “anticipated social and economic impact of the additional EGM’s (electronic gaming machines) would be detrimental to the community.”
According to the VCGR, Robert Marino, the manager of the Italian Sport Club, said the club needed the machines to help it continue to run programs like junior soccer.
“Mr Marino characterised the club as being more reserved and family-oriented than some other clubs in the area,” the VCGR report said.
“It is also struggling to accommodate the growing demand for participation in its sporting activities. Junior soccer, for example, has become so popular that the club has had to turn away children wanting to join up.”
It comes just days after the council opposed an application from the Hoppers Club to install 21 new gaming machines.
Councillor Kim McAliney told Star at the time that the council needed a new approach to gaming applications.
“Every time we refuse these proposals the applicant takes us to the VCGR, which costs us $20,000 of ratepayer’s money,” Cr McAliney said.
The approval of more machines at the Italian Sports Club will take their total number of machines to 70 and the total number in Wyndham to 676.
