Newtown’s Castle has joined the list of pubs ditching EGMs in the offering, and anti-gaming pundits have wasted no time picking it up as a political football.
Located in the inner west suburban heartland of Newtown, the Carlisle Castle is a few blocks north of bustling King St and the heaving train station.
Considering its local patronage, the pub has removed its gaming machines to increase floorspace and appeal for families. Licensee Erin Brown told the Inner West Courier they believed the community would get behind the move.
The Castle is under the banner of Surfside Hotel Group, which also holds title at the Surry Hills Hotel, Market City Tavern and Star Hotel in Chinatown.
Set in an area not typically strong in gaming, the Castle held average ranking of 1,211 on the Liquor & Gaming list, through its 10 EGMs.
Largely pioneered in the city fringe and inner west, Carlisle Castle is joining the ranks of pubs finding alternate use for their gaming machines – and for the space acquired by their removal. This is seen nearby at the Sandringham Hotel, Kuleto’s Bar, The Henson and the White Cockatoo Hotel.
Brown reports both established regulars and incoming families have offered positive feedback on the move.
But some have used the opportunity to make veiled accusations on the broader industry, the Daily Telegraph reporting sensational statistics from the Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR) that “35 per cent of the world’s pokie machines” are in NSW.
AGR mouthpiece Tim Costello accused NSW of being “the belly of the beast” and “run by the gambling industry”.
Somewhat short of the percentage suggested to be in just NSW, the Gaming Technologies Association cites through its world count of gaming machines, that the whole of Australia holds approximately 2.59 per cent of global EGMs.
