Clubs will be able to trade in poker machines for the first time from Monday, and while some clubs will play a waiting game, the industry expects the first sales quickly.
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The biggest pokies owner is the Tuggeranong Rugby Union Club, with 704 machines. It did not return calls on Friday about whether it will seek to boost numbers still more. Nor did the Canberra Labor Club, owned by the Labor party, return calls. It is the third biggest owner, with 488 machines.
The Southern Cross Club, which has 680 machines, is not in the market to buy. Chief executive Ian Mackay said the Canberra market was "over-machined", but nor was the club selling.
The club was taking machines off the floor, with 96 quarantined already, with four more to go next week.
The trading scheme introduced by Gaming Minister Joy Burch, allows clubs to quarantine machines without losing them, as long as they're off the floor for at least 12 months. Clubs are expected to quarantine between 200 and 400 machines over the next three years.
The trading scheme also requires them to forfeit one machine "authorisation" (or licence) for every four they buy – so they must buy in blocks of four. This is a way of reducing machine numbers over time, leading to a new ratio of 15 machines for every 1000 adults, to take effect in three years.
Mr Mackay said no one knew what machine authorisations would sell for.
"Authorisations could have a significant notional value but that market hasn't been set because no-one's bought or sold yet," he said. The Southern Cross Club had had "a couple of nibbles", but no offers, and at this stage was not selling.
Tradesmen's Union Club chief executive Rob Docker also believes the market is over-supplied. While the Dickson Tradies had 400 machines (the Woden Tradies has another 140), it didn't need that many, and he would be happy with about 300, he said.
He was not actively trying to sell, but was open to offers.
"At the Tradies we're not really thinking about buying any authorisations because we don't need them. And if somebody came to me wanting to buy any authorisations I'd be all ears," he said.
The new scheme sets a cap of 5022 machines, including the 66 largely redundant machines in hotels and pubs. Clubs are now allowed to buy those authorisations and convert them to modern machines, boosting their numbers. It is possible this is where much of the trading will happen.
The Eastlake club has in principle approval for 128 machines in its proposed new club at Gungahlin, but will need to transfer those machines from its other clubs or buy them from other clubs and pubs.
The trading scheme allows big clubs to boost their numbers by up to 20.
Head of Clubs ACT Jeff House expected early interest. "I think there'll be some activity early on – whether that's in the first day or first week, who knows?" he said. "I'm just grateful that it's finally coming into force and clubs are able to use it, because it's something that we've been pushing for the better part of a decade."
The trading scheme brought Canberra into line with other jurisdictions, allowed clubs flexibility about where machines were located and gave small clubs the opportunity to sell out, he said.
As to price, Mr House said he would "not hazard a guess".
"How much they're worth will be very much market forces and supply and demand and what individual parties negotiate," he said.
