Society & Culture

Poker Machine Reforms

Society & Culture

Posted by: 19chris51

20th Jun 2011 09:19pm

What do,you think of the proposed Poker Machine Reforms????
Do you believe that the Government should have the right to limit your Poker Machine Stakes................. I am not a Poker Machine fan, but I think I`m worried that the Government should not be able to tell people how to spend thier money (problem gamblers ???? maybe) but it seems to me that we are becoming a communist state. ANDREW WILKIE what do you think?????


Comments 13

Ally93
  • 15th Oct 2012 05:49pm

I think that we as a national community need to be able to provide better support for those with gambaling addictions as this is a huge issue. However I'm not sure how this reform will stop those gamblers. Perhaps for social gamblers who like to play every now and then the reforms are at the worst limiting freedom to choose how to spend their money, and at best limiting their losses possibly preventing future addictions?
I think also there's an issue with the clubs that generate a lot of their revenue from poker machines. Any problem gambler will only be helped if they want to be helped. So lets try to re-educate people and ask those affected by problem gambling what would help them.
I don't think we're becoming a communist state, but I do think we're in danger of becoming an over-protective one. at the end of the day people will make their own choices, and there needs to be a recognition of this at a government level.

Anonymous
  • 20th Sep 2012 11:46pm

It seems to me that the government (whoever is in ) just keep removing peoples privelages and my question to them on this subject is "Is the good that these changes will make to the problem gamblers in the community worth earning the disrespect/anger of the rest of the community?"

josh909
  • 1st Aug 2012 11:41am

my two cents:

- maximum bet should be limited to $2
- pre commitment introduced ~or~ no ATM in the building

Having spent more that i set out to a few times in the past, i can honestly say that sometimes the only reason i stopped was because the ATM machine was out of order. Sure I could have just gone to the next pub down the road or found an ATM but the "inconvenience" of doing so provided me with enough time to think that it was time to stop.

I know that current laws prevent an ATM from being in the same room as the poker machines however 9 times out of ten it seems to be located just outside the door to the pokie room O_o

19chris51
  • 1st Aug 2012 03:37pm
my two cents:

- maximum bet should be limited to $2
- pre commitment introduced ~or~ no ATM in the building

Having spent more that i set out to a few times in the past, i can...

Hi Josh, I think your suggestion is very good one, I really don`t have a lot to do with , poker machines, in actual fact now live in Melbourne and have not even been inside a club since I`ve been here about 10 months, I did not realize that atm`s were that handy to the machines, The no atm in the building sounds good.....

Pelly
  • 17th May 2012 11:08pm

Just walk into any pokie room and have a look at the faces of the people sitting at the machines...the picture should be enough to convince everyone that they must be banned...

Pelly
  • 17th May 2012 11:03pm

The Government preside over this problem and only they can fix it...but they have the problem and need us to gamble..having a bit of fun with the Poker machines is long gone, the sophisticated programmes that derive money out of the punters is far to viscious to be fun anymore..play them at your own peril...Ban them totally please, they are no fun anymore they are criminal!!!

E!
  • 3rd Mar 2012 03:14pm

I like it. Anything to curb problem gambling should be implemented. I acknowledge that people have the right to spend their money anyway they wanted, but the society and the government should take a stand on this issue, and try to discourage it as far as possible.

Cosyrosy
  • 17th Oct 2012 03:02pm
I like it. Anything to curb problem gambling should be implemented. I acknowledge that people have the right to spend their money anyway they wanted, but the society and the government should take...

I agree with E wholeheartedly. I am astounded that a first world country like Australia allows the number of Pokies or gambling facilities around the country operate knowing what misery out of control gambling causes to families, especially children who are so easily influenced and don't know anybetter!! What message are these kids getting when they see their parents all hail and hearty whilst they gamble away the family earnings only to go hungry or without for the rest of the month because the money has gone down the slot machine hole instead of toward food and medicines. I think the fact that the government are making money out of this is a disgrace but evidently they dont care so just let it be because they have to fill their own coffers having spent all the money.... so they dont give a damn!!

Pickel
  • 29th Jan 2012 12:06pm

The Problem with the poker machine reforms is that all the problem gamblers are the ones who are going to make sure they set there own limits first and all the people who enjoy the occasional flutter are no longer going to be able to play at all because it will end up a hassle to set up the stupid requirements.
Andd not only that but clubs will lose out on part of their income and start laying off staff to compensate... The whole idea is ludicrous and needs to be scraped...

trix56
  • 16th Jan 2012 04:05pm

It is a difficult question. I have been a problem gambler in the past. Not beaten (every now and then it flares up) but now pretty well controlled. I can tell you and the goverment that you can lose just as much money on a 1c machine as you can capped at a $1.
I don't think it is up to the goverment to tell you how you can spend your money.
That would be like them telling you how many packets of ciggies you can buy or how much you can spend on alcohol or even Hungry Jacks if it comes to that.
They are trying to tell us that we virtually can't celebrate Christmas!
Yes, the goverment is turning into somewhat of a dictatorship not communistic.

errolsyd
  • 8th Oct 2011 09:14pm

Hi 19chris51 wilke is a nut case. I earnt my money and paid my taxes , which the present government waste, but that is another story.
What right do they ( government ) have to tell me how to spend my hard earned.
We have the sin taxes, cigs, booze now pokies. This was tried in Canada and did not work. Why is it this mob only deals with miniorities, gay marriage, problem gamblers 0.3 % of population etc??? I have grown up children and was not a heavy gambler during my married life when I had children under 21 but now at 63
It is my money and I will use it as I see fit, I smoke and drink and have a flutter on the pokies when I want, it is not up to a sniviling , bully like wilke or anyone else to tell me what to do with my money.
Clubs provide a place for the elderly to meet and support local sports , cheap meals that a lot of pensioners take advantage of, me too. Look at the number of people they employ. Lets see labor party for the working man/woman? What does the working person enjoy? A majority, having a drink, having a smoke having a flutter. Lets face reality if you want to gamble their are lots more than pokies, ie. horses, dogs, trots, on line poker, bingo and the fly crawling up the wall. You are right commo state.

kitekat
  • 24th Sep 2011 10:18am

The Goverment makes a lot of their income from Poker machines, I do think any reform is better then none. A person with a gambling problem doesnt think like everybody else, sometimes they need a little help.But does the government really care, I dont think so

Anonymous
  • 20th Sep 2012 11:53pm
The Goverment makes a lot of their income from Poker machines, I do think any reform is better then none. A person with a gambling problem doesnt think like everybody else, sometimes they need a...

I agree and think the government will make their reforms but I bet that the difference in the government income would be neglegable when compaired to the care for problem gamblers

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