Australia to ban Pokies

[davis196]

I guess that abolishing all gambling machines altogether is the 'easier to implement' solution,compared to keeping the gambling machines while trying to regulate and monitor them all the time.
I was never a big fan of slot machines and I don't mind the Australian government trying to remove them completely from all pubs and clubs.This might help many gambling addicts to fight with their addiction,while other addicts will just find another way to gamble.

Now, is that fair ?
Abolish the machines altogether?
Why isn't regulation and monitoring not taken into account?
What do you think ?

It's fair as long as the gambling licenses of the companies that own the slot machines are taken into consideration.The Australian government doesn't want multiple lawsuits by the slot machine owners,for breaking the conditions of their gambling licenses.

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[madnessteat]

I do not quite understand why the Australian authorities first allowed so much expansion of gambling and now try to fight it by all available means.

Back in 2017, I read that in Australia there is a very widespread gambling addiction among the population, but as I look from that time not much has changed.

On the one hand I am not in favor of a complete ban on slot machines, but in my opinion they should not stand on every corner.

[KTChampions]

~
[1] Fair in what way? from the gamblers? Government has the duty to protect their citizens to become addicted to gambling.
~

As the saying goes, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." In theory, this all sounds good, but in practice it all leads to coercion and totalitarianism. For example, the idea that the government should take care of your health also sounds good, but when you are deprived of the choice of food (for the sake of your health) are deprived of the choice of leisure (for the sake of your health they will force you to run instead of resting) you look at this idea differently.

[Pmalek]

No doubt I support responsible gambling but at the same time, machines are not the problem, they might just be the surface of it. Why is there no medical support for people affected by gambling addiction in their plan?

Because it's expensive. It's easier to remove and ban slot machines in places where they don't need to be. In all honesty, why do they place pokies in cafés and clubs in the first place? It doesn't make the problem for a gambling addict easier if they can see them everywhere they go.

I don't see it as an unreasonable step at all. Confine gambling and slot machines to casinos because that's where they are supposed to be.   

[madnessteat]

^ 

I think it would be a good practice to create several medical institutions to help the gamblers get rid of this problem. In my opinion the main share of funding for such a fund should fall on the shoulders of entrepreneurs who conduct their activities in the sphere of gambling Australia part of the funding should be provided at the expense of the state which collects taxes from these entrepreneurs. I do not know why but it seems to me that reducing the number of gambling establishments will not solve this problem.

[Wexnident]

Well, I have no problems with it, I actually think it's okay since, from the article themselves, I think the amount of machines that are deployed is a tad bit too much. I wouldn't really consider it as much of an issue towards addiction but rather just, well, irritating to see might be how I describe it? Due to how cluttered it is across the place. I also don't think it would be a problem for the owners of said machines, I reckon they can just sell it and be used in other countries. I reckon they wouldn't want the machines they have to be associated with addiction and whatnot like that.

[traderethereum]

I don't know how the development of gambling in Australia is but if the government can't control something, they will remove it or get rid of it to not cause problems for them.
Maybe that's what the Australian government is doing because they can't directly control the slot machines in clubs or pubs.
I don't know if it's fair or unfair because we also don't know the real situation in Australia and can only comment.
But addiction requires serious attention from the government and this needs to be realized by them but maybe what needs to be taken care of is the source of the addiction itself.

[fiulpro]

More machines means less profits, reducing the number of machine will solve what the committee is saying? People will still roll and lose their money even with less machine but less convenience that's it.

This is just a business because they are allocating huge money so all these will go to the pockets and nothing else will be changed.

80% of the gambling machines apparently are located outside the casino as well. I do think this is a problem but they should work with :
•Relocation
•Helping people individually
If they do decide to ban I do not think how good that will work because:
•People will find elsewhere
•Those will be unregulated
•There will be a seperate dark market for it.
Therefore I do think that banning is not really a sure shot idea because that makes things even worse and sometimes it gets out of the hand. Plus this corruption you stated is definately a big deal. Again even though the country places 11th on the transparency list, we can never be so sure.

[paxmao]

Australia have more gambling machines per person than anyone else in tbe whole world. Right now an interesting event is happening, there have been numerous calls now to remove all those machines from places like the PUBS and the CLUBS.

According to a news report, the slot machines are not just confined to any casino or any usual place, right now apparently in Australia there is no such law, the machines are everywhere an insight into what might be causing tbe leading probelms with increasing addiction there.
...

To be honest is not the only place where such a machines are not widely allowed outside specific spaces and always with an age control system of shorts. In UK, you will not see a slots in any pub, only in betting houses, in Spain, there is a limitation of 1 machine at bars and restaurants, in many EU countries, these are as well limited. I will not go into limitations in muslim countries and the like but... it is pretty much that way in most places.

[Hydrogen]

I think this topic is similar to the loot boxes in video games controversy. Some argued that video games should not contain loot boxes which function similar to slot machines due to them being accessible to children. They claim it can encourage negative behavior involving impulse control and addiction. I can't claim to have experience with this. But would guess that owners of these machines are earning good passive income.

There's a chance these bans won't eliminate the gambling practice, but will simply drive it underground. Similar to craigslist bans of personal ads driving prostitution to other websites, rather than eliminating it.

The value of gambling machines in australia will also likely decline. Which could set up a decent buyer's market.

[Cryptock]

If this is the country with the most per capita slot machines in the world then it is no surprise to the Australian government that it is taking steps to reduce that number.
I think it could also be due to the fact that probably all slot machines in pubs are privately owned, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was also about money. That is, removing fee of pub, and collecting all fees directly from online gambling, because gamblers from physical machines would probably switch to playing on their smartphones.

[goldkingcoiner]

Now, is that fair ?
Abolish the machines altogether?
Why isn't regulation and monitoring not taken into account?
What do you think ?

I think that not only is that not very fair, I also believe that it is complete and utter nonsense. Why on earth would there be a need to abolish the machines? Is there any kind of actual reasoning behind that seemingly political decision? Thats what I bet it is, all politics. Politicians just want to make themselves look good so they find something or someone to pick on and normal people suffer for it.

Thats just not right.

Whatever the  politicians are up to, its no good for those owners of the machines, they earn from it and the government takes it away from them. How is banning helping the owners, now they have to restart their lives and find something else to make money.

There are also lots of these machines in every gasoline station in US, I would speculate this ban in Australia will also happen in US after some time. If Australians doesn't protest endlessly, its imminent to happen in US.

I personally do enjoy playing the slot machines in every country that I visit, as every countries gambling machines are all extremely different.  So its a real shame when regulators sterilize our fun and games with this obsessive compulsive fake do-goodery.

Has Australia ever had any politicians take back their silly decisions? Or is this ban now for forever? I can't lie, I do like Australia and I hate to see Australians losing their freedom and rights over some moral high-ground contest between faceless politician A and Politician B, who nobody will remember in a few decades.

[Finestream]

If they cannot control it, they ban it. And I wonder what good does it do in the long run when addicted people run around and find some other place to gamble, and even do the extremes in order to satiate their gambling thirst. Perhaps a total ban on slot machines isn't the solution but rather the regulation of it. If the Australian government tightens up their policy and regulation on acquiring and operating such machines, we will not be seeing a rise on the number of addicted people in said games.

It's unfair if they impose a whole ban, but they should think of something else to control it.

Banning does not make any sense because it does not reduce the total number of gamblers in their country. The government should create rules about these machines and regulate them maybe, but not putting a total ban in it because that would also be unfair on the gambler's right to play. If their concern is to lessen addiction, then they should tighten their policy so as not to see these machines everywhere, but limiting its areas only.

[SirLancelot]

I never thought about this and was not aware that Australia has a lot of slots machine all over their country. But the question is, how long has this been going on for Australia? And why are there no bill to curb at least the rampant growth of machines which can be equate to Australian being addicted to it? I've known one person though who is a local who travels to Australia and stay there for years. And when he comebacks, he is addicted to casino's until all of his money are gone.

If only you will see the surveys if which country gambles the most, you will see that australia is always on the top. Here is a sample. There are no bills maybe because their government are also into gambling and they encourage the people to do the same or maybe people on that country are still responsible and are not heavily addicted.

It's just many people play gambling on that country. Your friend is only unlucky that he got addicted but I think being addicted starts with us and not on the things around us. If we don't want to get addicted we must control our selves. Gambling is not bad as long as done in moderation.

[Lanatsa]

If they cannot control it, they ban it. And I wonder what good does it do in the long run when addicted people run around and find some other place to gamble, and even do the extremes in order to satiate their gambling thirst. Perhaps a total ban on slot machines isn't the solution but rather the regulation of it. If the Australian government tightens up their policy and regulation on acquiring and operating such machines, we will not be seeing a rise on the number of addicted people in said games.

It's unfair if they impose a whole ban, but they should think of something else to control it.

Banning does not make any sense because it does not reduce the total number of gamblers in their country. The government should create rules about these machines and regulate them maybe, but not putting a total ban in it because that would also be unfair on the gambler's right to play. If their concern is to lessen addiction, then they should tighten their policy so as not to see these machines everywhere, but limiting its areas only.

If they would love or like to sacrifice gambling revenue or taxes then they could do whatever they want and if they are pertaining about gambling addiction then there's nothing we could do since government would be

always have the final say and decisions when it comes to things, neither they would be banning it or not then its up to their choice and decision.Its just sad for those who had been playing with these type of games
if ever it would be decided for it to be banned.Avoid addiction for its citizens is a good initiative but sometimes its not really that justifiable if its not really that rampant.

[coin-investor]

What the party is doing how in favor of it are you ? No doubt I support responsible gambling but at the same time, machines are not the problem, they might just be the surface of it. Why is there no medical support for people affected by gambling addiction in their plan? Do the parties fail to get some decent knowledge about how an addiction is a mental disorder and needs immediate attention. If they remove the machines they will find some other source to gamble on ofc.

I agree on you on this part deprivation is not the key, education is the key they will always find something online that was taken to them offline, this is the reason why there is a boom in online casinos because the government failed to see the right solution and the only thing that they want to do is to deprive gamblers.

They are taking away profits from operators and workers of those machines and disregarding the tax they are paying.
They cannot tax and control those casinos online that are not in their jurisdiction.

[livingfree]

They are taking away profits from operators and workers of those machines and disregarding the tax they are paying.
They cannot tax and control those casinos online that are not in their jurisdiction.

It's okay that those operators are losing profits.

What's better to them is to help people catch addiction in almost every place and that's why they've stepped in and took the action that they think is necessary.

The people that are into this business would really have their decrease in profits but they can't do anything about that.

[magneto]

I don't think that is accurate.

I've just recently seen news about them potentially placing betting limits on these machines, which I think is completely ineffective if their goal is to stop people from losing money.

Target the problems at its core. Problem gambling is simply a symptom of more grave, deep-rooted problems in society.

[uneng]

The mentioned measure is only going to drive gamblers to new gambling methods that can fully replace the functionality of currently slots at pubs. Virtual casinos become an accessible, affordable and feasible alternative this way. That is actually an interesting event for crypto casinos to increase their range and customers' base.

If politicians want to fight addiction among gamblers in Australia, they have to come with fresh, original ideas which go beyond the failed concept of banning and destroying machines. That approach is very popular and known already, especially at third world countries, and I can assure in no way it achieves any improvement on the goal of stopping addiction.

The problem of addiction isn't on the machines or at the casinos. The problem is inside some individuals who can't control their gambling habits and that is how the issue should start being addressed.

[chaser15]

More slot machines is surely a problem. According to a survey data from 2021 it is found that Australia on the top of most addicted gamblers in the world losing an average of $1288. In specific 40% of Australians gamble in the daily basis. This is a big number considering the population of around 26.5 million. As mentioned going with strict regulations is good than getting into complete abolishing of the machines. It is the right moment for the government to act wise and keep its citizens under control.

Disagree. Do you really think by lessening the machines, will solve the problem? It's not even a band-aid solution, to begin with.

I don't know how's gambling in Australia but if they are really serious about the problem, why not just limit the machines exclusively at casinos and not in pubs? In that way, people have no choice but just to gamble in casinos which others might found not that easy for average gamblers there.

The problem of gambling can't be solved since it's also a major contributor to the government's revenue while at the same time, people themselves can't fight the temptation of doing gambling.