Of the venues contacted yesterday – the George Hotel, the Red Lion Hotel, Zagames, North Ballarat Sports Club, the Ballarat and District Trotting Club, the Bluebell Hotel and Minerdome Sports Club – only two returned The Courier’s calls.

North Ballarat Sports Club and Football Club chief executive officer Mark Patterson said his venue had already taken steps to reduce their machine numbers from 90 to 70 over the next 18 months.

“Gaming venues are required to operate responsibly and gaming venues take that extremely seriously,” Mr Patterson said.

The council this week voted unanimously to amend its pokie policy to reduce its current cap of 663.

Ballarat’s 14 venues currently have 657 electronic gaming machines, with 9.3 machines per 1000 adults. This compares unfavourably with the

7.1 machines per 1000 adults in Bendigo and a state average of 6.4.

The council will now request the state government reduce Ballarat’s cap to the state average, which is about 200 machines. However, Mr Patterson said the benefits of gaming machines were often overlooked.

“Thousands of young people play sport at our venue and we have provided lots of careers in sport and hospitality. These are areas we pride ourselves on.

“We also have a team that represents the Ballarat region which would not be possible without the ability to gain revenue through gaming and I think the regulators need to take all this into account.”

Minerdome Sports Club chief executive officer Peter Eddy said he understood council had to operate in everyone’s interest.

“It’s hard to say how it will affect our venue without seeing the proposal,” he said.

“I feel our site has the right balance for our needs and we don’t really feel the need to grow that side of the business.”

Mr Eddy said all money raised from machines went into developing young basketballers and referees.