Bendigo hosts 11 licensed gaming venues with 602 electronic gaming machines across hotels and clubs. The region's gaming industry operates under strict Victorian regulations with comprehensive player protection measures.
Bendigo's gaming landscape offers a diverse range of venues for electronic gaming machine enthusiasts, from large resort hotels to community clubs. Understanding the local gaming environment, venue options, and responsible gambling practices helps players make informed decisions about where and how to engage with pokies in the Greater Bendigo region.
The Greater Bendigo region hosts 11 licensed gaming venues with a combined total of 602 electronic gaming machines. These venues include both hotels and clubs, each offering unique atmospheres, amenities and gaming experiences. The gaming industry in Bendigo operates under Victorian state regulations, with comprehensive oversight ensuring fair play, responsible gambling practices and community benefit.
Monthly net EGM expenditure data shows that Bendigo's gaming venues collectively process significant player activity. For the 2023-24 financial year, total net expenditure across all venues reached approximately 58.6 million dollars, representing the total amount lost by players. This figure is publicly reported and audited, providing transparency into the scale of gaming activity in the region.
Each venue offers different machine allocations, operating hours, and complementary services including dining, entertainment and accommodation. Understanding these differences helps players select venues that match their preferences while maintaining awareness of expenditure patterns and responsible gambling resources.
Bendigo's gaming venues vary significantly in size, atmosphere and offerings. The largest venues provide comprehensive resort experiences, while smaller establishments focus on community club atmospheres.
Located at 171-183 McIvor Highway, All Seasons operates as Bendigo's largest gaming venue with 100 licensed machines. The venue recorded the highest net expenditure in the region at approximately 14 million dollars for the 2023-24 financial year. As a full-service resort and conference center, All Seasons combines gaming with accommodation, bistro dining, function spaces and regular entertainment.
The venue operates extended hours from 6:30am to varying closing times depending on the day, with Friday and Saturday extending to 3:00am. Weekly food specials, live entertainment and a relaxed bistro atmosphere complement the gaming facilities. The resort positioning attracts both local players and visitors to the region.
The RSL Club at 73-75 Havilah Road operates 93 machines and recorded approximately 9.9 million dollars in net expenditure. As a club venue, it provides a community-focused atmosphere with membership benefits and regular social activities alongside gaming facilities.
Operating 105 machines at 134 Marong Road in Golden Square, Bendigo Stadium combines gaming with sports facilities, restaurants and entertainment venues. The venue recorded approximately 6.6 million dollars in net expenditure. The Stadium offers Restaurant 91 for fine dining and a Sports Bar with casual dining options, creating a diverse entertainment destination.
Operating hours run from 10am to 1am Monday through Saturday, and 10am to midnight on Sundays. The venue's integration with sporting events and entertainment creates a unique gaming environment distinct from traditional pub settings.
Several traditional hotels throughout Bendigo offer gaming facilities alongside their core hospitality services.
Located at 112 High Street in Kangaroo Flat, the Windermere operates 40 machines and recorded approximately 6.7 million dollars in net expenditure, making it one of the higher-performing venues relative to machine count. This suggests strong local patronage and effective venue management.
Positioned at the corner of Pall Mall and Williamson Street in central Bendigo, the Shamrock operates 65 machines with approximately 5.2 million dollars in net expenditure. The central location provides convenient access for city visitors and residents.
At 84 Barnard Street, the Rising Sun has been family-owned and operated for over 65 years. With 35 machines, the venue recorded approximately 4 million dollars in net expenditure. The Rising Sun emphasizes bistro dining with lunch service from 11am to 2pm and dinner from 5pm to 8:30pm daily, alongside a Thirsty Camel bottleshop and TAB facilities.
The venue's long-standing family operation creates a welcoming atmosphere with emphasis on local wines from Bendigo region winegrowers. Pre-ordering options allow diners on tight schedules to have meals ready upon arrival.
Greater Bendigo's gaming industry comprises a balanced mix of hotels and clubs, each offering electronic gaming machines alongside dining, entertainment and hospitality services. Venues range from large resort complexes with 100+ machines to smaller community-focused establishments with 25-40 machines.
All venues operate under Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation oversight, with monthly expenditure data publicly reported and audited. The City of Greater Bendigo maintains transparency through regular publication of net EGM expenditure figures, showing total player losses across all licensed venues.
Club venues in Bendigo offer membership-based gaming experiences with community focus and social activities.
Located at Dower Park on Mackenzie Street West, this 60-machine venue recorded approximately 3 million dollars in net expenditure. Sports clubs typically offer family-friendly atmospheres with outdoor facilities and community events alongside gaming.
Operating 40 machines at 2-4 High Street in Eaglehawk, The Borough Club recorded approximately 2.9 million dollars in net expenditure. The club model emphasizes member benefits and regular social programming.
Despite its hotel designation, this 39-machine venue at 41-55 High Street operates as a club with approximately 2.1 million dollars in net expenditure. The family-oriented positioning suggests a community-focused approach to gaming and hospitality.
At 366 High Street in Golden Square, The Foundry operates 25 machines with approximately 642,000 dollars in net expenditure, making it the smallest active venue by revenue. The lower expenditure reflects both the smaller machine count and potentially different customer demographics.
The City of Greater Bendigo publishes monthly net EGM expenditure data, providing transparency into gaming activity across all venues. Net expenditure represents the total amount lost by players after winnings are deducted from amounts wagered. This figure is audited on an ongoing basis throughout each financial year.
For the 2024-25 financial year through November, total net expenditure reached approximately 26.2 million dollars across five months, averaging over 5.2 million dollars monthly. This compares to the full 2023-24 financial year total of 58.6 million dollars. Monthly figures show relatively consistent expenditure patterns, typically ranging between 4.8 and 5.5 million dollars per month.
These figures provide important context for understanding the scale of gaming activity in Bendigo. The data demonstrates that gaming represents significant economic activity while also highlighting the importance of responsible gambling measures to protect vulnerable players.
Bendigo gaming venues offer comprehensive amenities beyond electronic gaming machines. Most venues provide full bistro or restaurant dining with daily lunch and dinner services. Food options range from pub classics to international cuisine, with many venues featuring weekly specials and seasonal menus.
Entertainment programming includes live music, sports broadcasts, and special events. Larger venues like All Seasons and Bendigo Stadium offer function spaces for weddings, corporate events, graduations and celebrations. Accommodation options at resort venues provide convenient overnight stays for visitors.
Bottleshop services, TAB facilities, and sports bars complement gaming offerings. Many venues emphasize local products, particularly wines from Bendigo region producers. Member benefits at club venues include dining discounts, exclusive offers and access to member draws.
All Bendigo gaming venues operate under strict responsible gambling requirements mandated by Victorian regulations. These measures include mandatory staff training, self-exclusion programs, activity statements for players, and prominent display of problem gambling support resources.
Venues must provide information about Gambler's Help services and display responsible gambling messaging throughout gaming areas. Staff receive training to identify problem gambling behaviors and intervene appropriately. Self-exclusion programs allow individuals to voluntarily ban themselves from venues for specified periods.
Players can access support through the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation and Gambler's Help services, which offer free counseling and support for individuals and families affected by problem gambling. The 24-hour Gambling Help Line provides immediate assistance and referrals to local services.
Setting personal limits on time and money spent gaming represents a fundamental responsible gambling practice. Players should treat gaming as entertainment rather than income generation, never chase losses, and seek help immediately if gambling causes financial, relationship or mental health problems.
Bendigo offers diverse gaming venue options across hotels and clubs, each providing unique atmospheres and amenities. Understanding venue characteristics, expenditure patterns and responsible gambling resources helps players make informed decisions about gaming activities. The transparent reporting of expenditure data and comprehensive regulatory oversight ensure fair operations while protecting player welfare.
Whether seeking large resort experiences at All Seasons, community club atmospheres at the RSL or Borough Club, or traditional pub settings at the Rising Sun or Shamrock, Bendigo provides options for different preferences. Complementary services including dining, entertainment and accommodation enhance the overall venue experience beyond gaming alone.
Responsible gambling practices remain essential for all players. Setting limits, understanding that gaming should be entertainment rather than income generation, and accessing support services when needed protect individuals and families from gambling-related harm. Bendigo's gaming venues operate within a framework designed to balance entertainment opportunities with community protection.
Greater Bendigo has 11 licensed gaming venues operating a combined total of 602 electronic gaming machines. These include both hotel and club venues across Bendigo, Golden Square, Kangaroo Flat and Eaglehawk.
All Seasons International Hotel Bendigo operates the most machines with 100 licensed EGMs, followed by Bendigo Stadium with 105 machines and Bendigo District RSL Club with 93 machines.
Operating hours vary by venue but typically run from early morning until late evening or early morning the next day. Many venues operate from 6:30am or 10am until midnight or later, with extended hours on weekends.
Total net EGM expenditure for the 2023-24 financial year was approximately 58.6 million dollars across all venues. This represents the total amount lost by players after winnings are deducted from amounts wagered.
Yes, all major gaming venues in Bendigo provide bistro or restaurant dining services with lunch and dinner options. Most venues also operate bars and some include bottleshop facilities.
All venues provide access to Gambler's Help services, self-exclusion programs, and responsible gambling information. The 24-hour Gambling Help Line offers immediate support, and free counseling services are available through Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation programs.
All Seasons International Hotel Bendigo offers accommodation as a full-service resort. Other venues focus on gaming, dining and entertainment without accommodation facilities.
Yes, club venues including Bendigo District RSL Club, Bendigo Stadium, The Borough Club and others offer membership programs with benefits such as dining discounts, exclusive offers and access to member draws and events.
Explore Bendigo's premier gaming destinations offering quality entertainment and hospitality services
Bendigo's largest gaming venue with 100 machines, full resort amenities, bistro dining, accommodation and regular entertainment in a comprehensive hospitality complex.
Multi-purpose entertainment complex combining 105 gaming machines with sports facilities, Restaurant 91 fine dining, Sports Bar and major event hosting capabilities.
City of Greater Bendigo published November 2024 net EGM expenditure figures showing 5.14 million dollars in player losses across all licensed venues.
Bendigo gaming venues participated in statewide Responsible Gambling Week with enhanced staff training and player awareness campaigns.
Several Bendigo venues announced extended summer operating hours to accommodate increased visitor numbers during the warmer months.