State government policies and VCAT decisions do not give Ballarat Council much power over pokies.
One thing the council could do is follow the lead of a couple of Melbourne councils and charge double the rates for venues with pokies.
And one thing the rest of us could do: if there is a choice, go somewhere else.
If a venue chooses to install pokies, we can choose to spend our money and organise our social events elsewhere.
GORDON MONRO
Ballarat