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AU $500 BonusAustralian annual losses through gambling are estimated to be around $20 billion. This makes some wonder whether the move to legalise online poker sites is a good idea.
Poker machines themselves attribute to a huge amount of these losses. It is easy to lose $1500 an hour on the pokies, making governments under pressure to impose some new gambling restrictions.
Statistics show that 15% of poker machine players have a serious gambling problem, and that these 15% account for 40% of pokie machine turnover.
By 2016 the Productivity Commission indiciates that poker machines should have pre-committed and easier playing limits, upgrading of playing patterns, ways of seeing the actual cost of play, more direct warnings, $1 play limits and limits on cash and credit imputs. Another suggestion being that wins over $300 should be paid by cheque.
Some people favour pokie machines being available only in casinos and at racecourses. So, although in most States, there is a restriction on the number of machines allowed, this would take revenue away from clubs and pubs and in turn away from the charities and community projects they support.
One point of view regarding the debate between pokies and online poker is that poker is a game of skill played against other people with the house taking a small percentage, whereas pokies have set maximum winning potential, with the odds stacked very firmly against the player.
So the debate as to whether online gaming sites should be legalised with the resulting tax benefit for governments, against tighter restrictions on pokie machines and losses for community projects, will continue.
However, gambling is obviously a problem for some people, and it is likely these people will always find an outlet for their gambling addiction whatever restrictions are in place.
