Community concern as Iris Capital gets set to extend pokie footprint in NT’s pubs

Iris Capital wants to add dozens more pokie machines to its gaming venues in Alice Springs.

The hospitality giant has acquired several of the region’s biggest hotels and pubs for $60 million, which now has a community, which is battling daily with crippling social issues made worse by gambling, on alert.

Iris Capital owner billionaire Sam Arnaout has applied to the Director of Gaming Machines for licences to add 40 machines across Uncles Tavern, the Gap View Hotel, and the Todd Tavern.

The company already has more than 300 gaming machines at Lassiter’s Hotel, as well as others in pubs and hotels as it expands its footprint in the Territory.

Alice Springs councillor Michael Liddle believes more machines would have a severe impact on the community, particularly its most disadvantaged.

"As far as I know, [Iris Capital] is a company with a lot of money investing in the town, but the purpose of the investment is not about building a better community," Liddle said.

"I think it's about building a bigger bank balance on the plight of an already disadvantaged people.

"The community of Alice Springs has to be protected," Liddle said.

"The many people who pay rates and have services have to be protected because of the negative outcomes that this type of investment can lead to, and it's already got a base."

The town mayor sees things differently as has the Northern territory government.

Mayor Matt Paterson has thrown his full support behind Iris Capital’s expansion and the Territory government has backed a $250 million pipeline from Iris capital and will fix the taxation rate on gaming machines at 15 per cent for the next decade.

This comes as no surprise as the government raked in more than $12 million in gaming machine tax in the 2020–21 financial year.

A statement released by Iris Capital points to the expansion being full steam ahead.

"Iris will look to spend significant monies to reposition and activate the venues to operate to their capacity in all areas. This includes gaming," a company spokesperson said.

The Northern Territory has a cap of 1,699 gaming machines allowed in operation in pubs and clubs. However, pokies in the region’s two casinos are not included in this limit.

The region’s hospitality peak body, Hospitality NT has also backed the move saying it will create jobs and attract tourists.

Chief executive, Alex Bruce said, "It's a legitimate and legal avenue of entertainment for both tourists and locals alike.

"There's half a million tourists in the Red Centre that we're targeting to create more experiences … you're about to see a boom there in better food, better accommodation offerings and, yes, gaming will be part of the services."

Bruce said problem gambling was not an issue.

Irit Jackson, 21^st July 2022