Everglades loses $300,000 from poker machines

Everglades Country Club is facing a loss for the year, with its poker machine revenue down by over $300,000 compared to last year, according to club president Mr Brian Crawley.

This follows the introduction of smoking restrictions at the club.

Mr Crawley said February had shown a loss of $56,674.74, making the loss $123,991.54 for the last eight months, the financial year to date.

This figure was $189,645.10 by the end of March.

"The main contribution to this situation is of course our poker machine profit, which compared to last year is down by $309,631 (in February), quite a huge drop," Mr Crawley said.

"Your board is very mindful of our position and has told management to eliminate any unnecessary expenditure, in all areas of the club and sporting sections."

The club's plans for a new smoking area, to help increase its poker machine revenue, was recently knocked back by Gosford Council.

Mr Crawley said council "could not give their approval for this new area".

"The building committee is to meet again to come forward with other ideas to create another smoking section for our club," Mr Crawley said.

"This, we hope, will solve our problem of lost poker machine revenue."

"Plans and quotes are in progress to give us additional gaming areas for our smoking members and this we trust will improve our poker machine income.

"With the ever increasing regulations being placed on the club industry, we are looking to the members to give the club continued support in these difficult times."

Newsletter, 20 May 2008 Brian Crawley, Everglades Country Club