If you are planning a summer trip to the Southern Hemisphere and are looking for poker machines that should be in place for a while, may I suggest Hobsons Bay, Victoria, Australia?
According to a report in the Williamstown, Altona, Laverton Star, that fine city is currently deciding how to handle its poker machines, due to a recent move in Australia to "hand more licensing power to local government." Maybe I'm crazy, but I think that the following facts will weigh heavily towards a decision to keep those machines right where they are, despite their "social ramifications":
"Gaming revenue continues to climb by around $400,000 per month in Hobsons Bay, despite the number of poker machines in the municipality remaining steady for several years at 579. Almost $45 million was poured into poker machines last year at the 10 gaming venues in the municipality, a figure that represents $690.88 for every adult."
Let me repeat in slightly different terms: 579 poker machines drew $45 million in revenue last year. Some quick math (caveat: never my strong suit): assuming a round number of $45,000,000, that's over $77,500 per machine; $4,500,000 per venue, give or take -- and the numbers are going up by "around" $400,000 per month. Who knows exactly what the "per adult" figure means, but I think we can safely predict two outcomes in Hobsons Bay: (1) the "social ramifications" of the machines, whatever they be, will somehow not require that the machines disappear, and (2) more poker machines are on the way to service the growing number of gamblers.
Wait, even with the recent Congressional efforts, that sounds like where we're likely headed in the United States! It's becoming clearer and clearer . . .