Gambling

Biggest Catholic pokies clubs as measured by net assets


October 13, 2024

This list tracks the biggest Catholic pokies clubs as measured by net assets on their latest balance sheets. The issue was covered in this Crikey story published on July 3, 2023.

1. Dooleys Lidcombe Catholic Club: profiled by Michael West in this 2018 investigation and latest annual report shows on page 10 that is has more than doubled net assets over the past decade to $202 million.

2. Illawarra Catholic Club: the 2021-22 annual report reveals on page 8 that it has $192.3 million of net assets. Owns the biggest pokies venue in Chris Minns' electorate which trades as "Club Central" in Hurstville.

3. Liverpool Catholic Club: the 2021-22 annual report reveals on page 34 that it has $168 million in net assets.

4. Campbelltown Catholic Club: page 15 of the 2022 annual report shows that his members equity of $126.3 million.

Across the big 4 in NSW, that comes to $688.6 million of net assets, after taking into account all liabilities, including debt.

The next biggest is probably the Southern Cross Club in Canberra. It's 2021-22 annual report discloses $44 million of net assets, after taking into account its $15 million debt from a multi-year spending spree across various Canberra sites.