THE Robinvale Golf Club could potentially double the number of poker machines it operates.
A decision as to whether their application for extra machines will go ahead, lies in the hands of The Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation, with an outcome expected in the coming weeks.
President of the golf club, Peter MacIntosh, said the club currently operated 25 gaming machines and purchased extra licences from Melbourne in 2010.
Mr MacIntosh said the club had been through a stringent process following the purchase of the licences and had been working on a socioeconomic study to support their application.
"It's been a fairly exhausting process," Mr MacIntosh said.
"We have spent a lot of time developing the socioeconomic study."
However, the application has been met with strong opposition from Mallee Family Care executive director, Vernon Knight who said his organisation saw first-hand the impact gambling could have on a small community.
"Our organisation is a daily witness to the damage which results from problem gambling," Mr Knight said.
"It's the sort of damage that manifests itself in financial difficulties, relationship breakdowns and enormous self harm.
"The by-products are the tragedies which present in many of our programs, despite the fact that we are not a provider of problem gambling services."
Mr Knight recently took his concerns to Swan Hill Rural City Council, noting his organisation was committed to protecting vulnerable communities such as Robinvale.
"Another 25 poker machines in Robinvale would amount to a total of 150 pokies in the neighbouring communities of Robinvale and Euston," Mr Knight said.
"Can anyone honestly argue that there is a need for one electronic gaming machine for every 15 residents over the age of 15 years in Robinvale," he questioned.
"We must not be deluded that these machines value add to our communities or that essential community services depend on their existence."
However, these claims were refuted by Mr MacIntosh.
He said the golf club catered to the wider Robinvale district, noting it was utilised by a number of individuals and community groups outside the golf club.
"Robinvale is a pretty dynamic little community," Mr MacIntosh said.
He said Robinvale was losing income to larger clubs across the river, and said the extra licences would ensure dollars injected by gaming activity were reinvested to "look after the immediate Robinvale area," therefore having a positive impact on the township.
Meanwhile, Mr Knight said he condemned claims which suggested extra pokies would result in more jobs and money for the local community.
The debate comes at a time when the Victorian Government has reneged its election promise to meet its 2013 deadline to implement a voluntary pre-commitment rollout in gaming venues across the state.
"There needs to be controls in place," Mr Knight said.
"The federal and state governments have gone wishy washy."
He said Gillard had stepped away from the issue and now the Baillieu government was following suit.
"When is this ever going to be controlled," Mr Knight said.
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