Aussies Top World Gambling Stats… Again

Whether you call them fruit machines, slot machines, slots, pokies, or ‘stupid bastard mother #&$*@!!’ they are all the same thing. How countries react to these insidious machines however is so varied and different it makes you wonder who is right and more importantly, why Australia is so bloody messed up?!

It is a fact that countries around the world have different approaches to regulating electronic gambling machines. They are the subject of fierce political and social debate in Australia – namely because they generate so much revenue for the government. The legal side of ‘regulating play’ however shows a huge disparity between nations and offers some insight into why we’re so bloody bad down under?!

As the chart from 2014 shows, these stats are nothing new. Sad but hey, at least w’ere consistent!….groan

Let’s examine the gambling laws and regulations put in place for each nation and see whether this does in fact reveal a trend and perhaps maybe even a fix? (What, a man can dream can he not?)

AUSTRALIA

In Australia, laws regulating the use of gaming machines differ in each state, but it is the only nation to have a universally-agreed definition of ‘problem gambling’ based on research and not psychological diagnostics.

Pokies garner by far the highest revenue of all betting activities (horse and dog racing, table games and others), according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ figures.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie offered his support for the Labor government in return for a federal law that would cap the amount gamblers can spend using mandatory commitment technology. However, the government backed out of its promise to honour Wilkie’s demands.

There is at least one casino in each major city. In 1956, New South Wales was first to legalise gaming machines for all registered clubs and pubs.

There are nearly 200,000 machines in Australia, and 100,308 of these are in NSW. The national figure is five times that of the US and represents around 20 per cent of all gaming machines in the world.

Revenue from gaming machines in pubs and clubs accounted for more than half of the gambling revenue collected by state governments in 2002-3.

In NSW and Victoria the mandatory return rate for machines in pubs and clubs in 87 per cent, and that applies to those in Melbourne’s Crown Casino too.
In Queensland, the return rate is 85 per cent in pubs and clubs, while casino machines must have a rate of 90 per cent.
Machines that accept $100 notes were banned in December 2007, except for in Crown Casino, where VIP members may still use them.
Machines with an automatic play button (that continued betting without any action from the gambler) were also banned.
All gaming machines in Victoria have an information screen showing return to player percentage and the odds of winning.
Machines in pubs are limited to paying out a maximum of $10,000 for a win.
In Western Australia, gaming machines are banned everywhere except in Burswood casino.

NEW ZEALAND

Since 1991, pokies operated by charitable foundations have been placed in hotels and bars. Maximum jackpots are regulated, with turnover decreasing by 9 per cent between 2004-8 and a further 5 per cent by 2009.

Pokies still accounted for 46.1per cent of gambling losses in 2008. The number of pokies in NZ is decreasing.

All machines must have Player Information Displays telling the gambler how long they have been playing, how much they have lost, and encouraging them to take breaks.

A 2010 study linked the prevalence of slot machines with high crime levels

UNITED KINGDOM

The UK divides slot machines – known colloquially as ‘fruit machines’ – into eight categories with differing limits on the amount of money that can be gambled and the amount the machine can pay out.

Category A machines – which have no limit on either spending or payout – are currently illegal.
Category B machines are divided into five sub-categories.
For B1, the maximum bet is £2 and the maximum prize £4,000, while category B2 machines allow a £100 stake (in multiples of £10) but will only pay out £500.
Category B3 allows only a £1 bet for a £500 payout, while B4 has the same spend limit and half of the payout (£250).
Category C is limited also to a £1 stake for a possible win of just £70.
Category D allows bets of 10 pence to £1 and will only pay out £8 cash or £50 non-cash.

UNITED STATES

Slot machines are highly regulated by state governments in the US, with the exception of Nevada, which is a hub for gamblers visiting Las Vegas.

In New Jersey, gaming machines are only allowed in hotel casinos in Atlantic City.

In Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana and Missouri the machines are allowed only on licensed riverboats or permanently-anchored barges.

Mississippi removed a requirement that casinos operate only on barges after Hurricane Katrina, in order to recuperate its massive losses by stimulating tourism.

Delaware allows slot machines at horse tracks regulated by the state lottery commission.

Wisconsin bars and taverns are allowed to have up to five machines, and players can choose between taking a payout, or gambling it on a double-or-nothing “side game”.

Slot machines are banned on Native American reservations unless the tribe first reaches a pact with the state entitling the state to receive a fraction of the gross revenue from the machines.

RUSSIA

A rapid increase in gaming machines caused severe social problems in Russia in the first decade of the 21st century, with psychiatric reports estimating that 1.5 million people in Moscow gambled regularly.

The state was not collecting taxes from gambling activity, creating economic pressure as well.

In 2007, gambling of any kind was banned in all but four regions of Russia from 2007, with an amnesty period for existing establishments ending in 2009.

In the four regions – Altay, Kaliningrad, Rostov and Primorie slot machines are tightly controlled.

Owners of gambling premises with slot machines are obliged to secure the safety of gamblers and the machines must pay out not less than 90 per cent of all takings.

There are restrictions on the net assets gambling operators may own.

JAPAN

Gambling is a criminal offence in Japan, but a game called ‘pachinko’ – like a form of pinball – provides a loophole and works the same way as poker machines.

Gamblers put money into the pinball machines, and if the player’s ball falls into a certain hole the slot machine is activated and a jackpot may be made.

Since gambling is illegal, there can be no payout in the pachinko parlour, but players are rewarded with balls that can be converted into prizes of at a booth in the parlour.

The most popular prizes are slits of gold encased in plastic, which can be ‘sold’ at a neighbouring shop – usually also owned by the parlour – for cash.

MACAU

Gambling tourism makes up about 50 per cent of the economy, with visitors mainly Chinese nationals from the mainland and Hong Kong.

All kinds of gambling are legal in Macau’s 33 casinos, including slot machines.

They operate under a common set of rule relating to tax and criminal law, but there is no set minimum percentage of return, no licensing system for vendors, no fines for breaching gaming laws and no legal framework to address problem gambling. However, vendors are charged a tax premium for slot machines in their establishments.

Legislation to be enacted in March 2012 plans to remove slot machine parlours from residential areas.

Macau overtook the Las Vegas Strip in gaming revenues in 2007 after gambling licenses were opened up to foreign operators – notably from Las Vegas and Australia.

FRANCE

Slot machines were banned in France until 1988, but are now legal. A state-owned body called FranÃ§aise des Jeux is responsible for regulating betting games and lotteries. France has 160 licensed casinos.

NORWAY

Norway banned all slot machines in 2007 and had them removed immediately from gaming premises.

A study conducted on their effect showed that 80 per cent of users were problem gamblers, and there was a considerable over-representation of men among them. The study also found that slot machines were the predominant type of gambling in the year prior to the ban.

IRELAND

Slot machines have been banned in many local authority areas including Dublin City, which outlawed them in 1987.

However, dozens of private members’ clubs offering similar games operate around the country.

In 2011, the Minister for Justice was considering a proposal to legalise more gambling activities in order to stimulate the country’s faltering economy.

Simple Casino Cheats and Gambling Scams That Work!

Simple Gambling Scams & Casino Cheats Still the most popular and costly for Casino operators. What used to take an Ocean now takes a drop(kick) or two. Seems the Strip is still awash with scammers and cheats. Water we gonna do about this torrent of dishonesty? (insert more puns – I’m gonna H2gO now)

What Used to Take An Ocean Now Takes a Few Drop(kick)s

Casino’s Would Rather a Visit from Daniel Ocean & Co.

Inside jobs, chip-grabs, counterfeit cash and cheats at table games like craps are the largest ongoing headaches for casinos and casino regulators.

So while Daniel Ocean and his crew are pulling off the most audacious of heists, it's the most basic scams that can be hardest to catch and are the biggest problems for Casino operators across Nevada and the rest of the world.

The Official Word on Casino Cheats

The Nevada Gaming Control Board had 574 arbitration cases in 2015, disputing $51.8 million and made 602 criminal arrests.

Click image link to see original article from Las Vegas Review Journal

James Taylor, deputy chief of the Gaming Control Board enforcement division, told a crowd of about 200 casino operators on Monday during the first day of Global Gaming Expo, that theft occurs at nearly every level of casino operations.

James Taylor, Deputy Cheif of special investigations for the Nevada State Gaming Control Board presenting ongoing fraud schemes and current trens on Monday night

No matter what their titles are, everybody needs to be watched, he said. The sad part is that even management is a large part of our arrests every year.

Between 250 to 500 casino employees are arrested by the GCB each year, he said, making up about 25 percent of all GCB arrests annually. Of that 25 percent, 27 percent are table game operators, 18 percent work in the cage, 3 percent are security personnel, and 23 percent are in management.

Those looking to scam casinos from the outside have come up with elaborate schemes, including using an ink-type substance to mark playing cards. The ink looks invisible to the naked eye, but cheaters use special glasses with red filter film or special contact lenses to see their marks.

Though, of course, it takes time and effort to catch such scams, it's the basic stuff that is the hardest to catch, Taylor said, like the grab-and-run chip theft.

Tasia Musa, whose name was added last year to the Black Book, the list of people barred from entering any of Nevada's casino, has stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars worth in chips. A GCB agent counted $220,000 as of 2013. Surveillance video from different casinos shows him slyly approaching table games and stealing chips from players and dealers and then quickly exiting the casino.

It's easy to see but they're (immediately) out the door. So, then we're backing up the video, getting their pictures, then we have to catch them when they do it again, and there are so many opportunities for them on the Strip, Taylor said. The hardest thing is to watch them get arrested with all these counts and then the next day they're back out.

The Black Book isn't a deterrent, but it helps the GCB to spread the word about who to look out for.

This guy is a thief but he's doing more damage to our reputation than any of these other guys, he said.

Cheaters who aren't so nimble with blatantly stealing chips will look to the craps table to pull of their casino cheats and scams – see why and how to cheat at Craps (or at least how to play it and not be shit at…. craps?!) and you’ll see why it’s such a popular method of scamming or at least attempting to scam the casinos.

Common Scams and Easy Casino Cheats

The following scams and cheats are still some of the most common and certainly the most costly for casino operators across the country. These scams and cheats are less scam and more ‘blatant theft; but regardless are still the biggest headache for gaming authorities.

Note that although these scams are the more common ones, they are certainly not limited to what is listed below, with thieves and dishonest people trying just about anything to pull a fast one and reward themselves financially without necessarily following the rules.

Craps is a very difficult game to police, Taylor said. Money is going all over the place and if you don't have a good boxman or supervisor, people can get away with this stuff (cheating).

Sal Piacente, president of UniverSal Game Protection Development, described to a crowd of about 150 at G2E the ways that players and table operators cheat at craps.

Click our craps cheat sheet to learn more about the game and how to increase your odds – legitimately we mean

“Because in craps you call your bet to the dealer, and because there are hardly any more boxmen on the games, that's why it's very easy to pull certain scams off, he said.

For example, dice-switching is still commonly used and still difficult to catch. A cheater will switch the dice being played on the table with dice that don't have any losing numbers, but they're typically only used for two rolls during a game.

Table operators, like the stickman, for example can use subtly slip chips into their vests, ties and other accessories on their uniforms. The first tip-off there, Sal said, is if you see a table operator keeping an eye out for a supervisor.

Why does a dealer look at a supervisor? To see if they're looking at them, Piacente said.

Crazy Casino Scams and Less Common Cheats

Check out the following articles for some of the craziest casino scams and biggest casino heists in history! – There’s some downright mental stuff here – people are nuts anyway and this list just proves money only makes us worse

Or Learn How to Increase your Odds and How to Win at Pokies – well increase your chances at least

Footy Tips that Are Less AFL and More FAiL

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson knows Bullshit AFL Footy Tips when he sees them

With the popularity of online sports betting in Australia (and throughout the western world for that matter) growing exponentially, literally thousands of websites are trying to capitalise on the punting boom by offering AFL footy tips. No matter how much the website owner might try to convince you that he's got insider info, hot tips or sure-win secrets, however, it's clear that at least 70% of these so-called tips are a big steaming pile of horse dung. We've seen some pretty terrible advice in our time, but these awful AFL footy tips really take the cake.

4 AFL Footy Tips that Suck Worse Than Collingwood

If you want to stand a half decent chance of winning the 2017 seasons’ AFL Footy Tipping Competition then you need to listen to the following worldly advice. Not only are these 4 bad tips widely shared and commonly followed, they are also the reason the average punter is well, the average punter 😉

*EDIT – With the recent confirmation that Sportsbet will indeed be holding their million dollar footy tipping competition in 2017 there’s even more reason to take things a little more serious this upcoming footy season and use these 4 AFL footy Tipping …tips to good use.

Backing Teams Because of a Hot Streak

You'll see loads of self-proclaimed experts making this mistake, even the big sports magazines and newspapers. They'll present a team as a sure-win just because the team's on a winning streak. That certainly seems intuitively appealing. After all, form is a huge factor in sports, and a team in good form and high morale is likely to play better. However, smart sports betters don't treat a team's current form as the decisive factor. First of all, the more games a team wins, the lower the returns from backing that team. Bookmakers aren't likely to give you 9:1 odds on the team that's topping the table. Second, don't underestimate the impact that an easy run of fixtures or even sheer dumb luck can have on a team's form. Look at all the information when you're researching AFL footy tips, and not just the team's win ratio in the past five games!

I said Hot STREAKS.. ? SMH who hired this guy anyway?

Randomly Increasing Stakes

Losing bettors have a certain betting pattern – if they lose one weekend, they'll bet loads more the next weekend to try and win their money back. This is a sure-fire way to lose your bankroll. As experienced gamblers know, bet sizes should be determined in advance and judiciously calculated according to your bankroll size. Bet sizes should only be increased when your bankroll increases, i.e. when you've won enough to up your stakes!

Stakes not st…… You know what, never mind

Too Many Sportsbooks

Sure, diversification is a part of any successful investment strategy – but that doesn't mean that you have to spread out your betting among five different sportsbooks every weekend to succeed. Many websites advise you to do so because they get commissions and ad revenue from bookmakers, and it's therefore in their interests for you to join as many bookmakers as possible. But if you follow this terrible AFL footy tip, you lose out on VIP points and make it harder for yourself to keep track of bet expenditure. It's a recipe for disaster.

Books. About sports. OK Yes #Iseewhatyoudidthere
Yes it’s wonderful. Very clever. (Ijit)

Betting every weekend

Bookies are the biggest offenders when it comes to this particular clunker. They'll tell you not to miss out on their great odds next weekend or offer you free bets for next week's games. The winning punter, however, is the punter that bets only when he sees a good opportunity and a clear advantage. Don't forget that bookmakers weigh the odds judiciously to maintain a massive advantage over their clients. If you play every week, you play right into their trap, because they'll be winning most of the time. Bet only when you're sure they've missed out some vital information and gotten their odds wrong.

There’a fine line between a hobby and a habbit

Australia's Growing Gambling Crisis – It's the Crown or the Country

It seems that although the fight against problem gambling has a lot of support – the opponents we face have more experience and worst of all, they really know how to Packer punch.

Will saying no to the Crown reduce problem gambling in Australia?
Is it time to become a gambling republic once and for all?

It’s certainly got me stumped. Royally in fact.

The following press release was distributed to the top News agencies in Australia earlier today and we felt it necessary to share this with our readers as well – look out for this story in your local paper tomorrow!

Australia's Growing Gambling Crisis – It's the Crown or the Country

Will a Gambling Republic Reduce Harm and Minimise Pokie Addiction?

_______________________________

JAMES PACKER’S GROWING CASINO PORTFOLIO IS IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH AUSTRALIA’S EFFORTS TO COMBAT PROBLEM GAMBLING AND MINIMISE THE IMPACT THIS IS HAVING ON SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. PACKER’S CASINO RESORT GROUP UNDERMINES OUR BEST EFFORTS TO FIGHT THIS PROBLEM AND LEAVES US ASKING THE QUESTION – WOULD AUSTRALIA BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT THE CROWN?

___________________________

Australia, (September 27, 2016) – A $3 BILLION casino plan for the Southport Spit is expected to go before State Cabinet within weeks as a new poll reveals widespread support for the proposal.

This seems to be in direct conflict with an ever-growing crisis of gambling addiction and excessive pokie spend that targets the most disadvantaged suburbs and bears a social cost of over $4 billion a year. (Learn more here)

OnlinePokies.com.au last week exclusively revealed plans by Chinese-owned ASF for a casino, operated by James Packer's Crown group, between Sea World and Palazzo Versace. As well as an up-market casino targeting Asian high-rollers, the game-changing project would boast three towers, seven high-end restaurants and a Florida Keys-style bridge linking The Spit to Southport to ease traffic congestion. Sea World would also double in size, add a water park and become the biggest theme park in the country. Work could start as early as next year.

(See this article HERE where we cover the plans for this new casino in more detail)

Packer Lacks Local Support – Not That He Gives a Toss

Wait!? Did they think I might actually care? DYING!

While a poll apparently compiled for The Sunday Mail has shown strong backing for the plan from Gold Coasters the ReachTEL poll of over 1000 coast residents reveals that less than half supported the casino development with over 37% strongly against the idea*

*The ReachTEL poll of 1098 Coast residents on Thursday night found 45.3 per cent supported the development, with 37.8 per cent opposed and 16.9 per cent undecided. – This doesn’t even take into account the environmental impact – of which assessments need to be completed.

Residents like Luke Sorenson and son Kyle are against the proposal and are well aware of the negative impact it will have on both the environment and the community

OnlinePokies.com.au have spoken exclusively to The State Government and local members who are progressing the proposal and informed us it will be considered by Cabinet soon.

While we cannot confirm or deny how Mr Packer feels about the lack of local support it would be fair to assume that he couldn’t give two shits and is busy filing his care factor towards the whole thing somewhere between ‘None’ and ‘Buckleys’*

*This is based on past experiences and the fact James Packer has more political influence and overall power than most. Oh and there’s the golden rule.

THE GOLDEN RULE – He who has the GOLD makes the RULES

The Southport Spit Casino Proposal Looks …Unsightly

The Ever Growing Crown of Thorns

A Press Release from a few months back highlights the concern we have towards Packer’s growing portfolio – because it seems that the moment one Casino gets the green light he goes and starts proposing more!?!

Australia, (August 31, 2016) – James packer is all set to start his new construction project, a spectacular Crown Casino Resort that will take $2 billion to develop. This new project which will alter the Sydney skyline greatly has just got final go-ahead from NSW Planning Commission. The new James Packer owned casino is part of the growing Crown group (which will soon expand its portfolio with a proposed $3 Billion Casino at Southport Spit) and when completed, Barangaroo Crown Casino will become the most luxurious casino and resort in the Southern Hemisphere.

If packer truly gets to achieve what he plans to do with this new casino, Barangaroo Crown Casino is going to be a one of a kind landmark in the area. The hotel is supposed to be a 6 star hotel according to James Packer. However, the international rating system and the formal accommodation rating system in Australia or the Triple A system can only go up to 5 stars. However there are lots of new exciting features that this hotel can boast of that may make it a tad more than just a 5 star hotel. For starters, it is going to have a facade that will look like three petals twisted and winded together which will be veiled by using white glass. It is also going to become the tallest building in Sydney with a height of 270 meters or more. The project is going to be designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects that has previously worked on notable landmarks like London 2012 Basketball Arena and Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.

You Don’t Win Friends With Salad

One of the things we love about casino gaming is the friends we make along the way. Gambling should be a social activity, enjoyed over beers and along with plenty of good conversation and laughter. Unfortunately, there are a few gamblers who spoil the social experience for everybody. You know who I'm talking about. We've all seen them at least once. Those vegetables in front of the fruit machines, who show no signs of life other than that repetitive action as they pull the lever or press that button over and over (and over) again. Even a jackpot elicits no more than a smile and a nod, and it's back to pulling the lever and/or pushing that button again.*

*Addiction by Design by Natasha Dow Schull

More information is provided in the below resources and links but since it is so intrinsically linked to the above point I wanted to highlight her findings for you here:

Drawing on fifteen years of field research in Las Vegas, anthropologist Natasha Dow SchÃ¼ll shows how the mechanical rhythm of electronic gambling pulls players into a trancelike state they call the machine zone, in which daily worries, social demands, and even bodily awareness fade away. Once in the zone, gambling addicts play not to win but simply to keep playing, for as long as possible-even at the cost of physical and economic exhaustion. In continuous machine play, gamblers seek to lose themselves while the gambling industry seeks profit. SchÃ¼ll describes the strategic calculations behind game algorithms and machine ergonomics, casino architecture and ambience management, player tracking and cash access systems-all designed to meet the market's desire for maximum time on device.

Source: http://www.natashadowschull.org/

It appears the vegetable in all of us is just waiting to be exposed by these insidious machines. Just give them enough time…

Play Pokies for Fun – Don’t be a Vegetable Playing Fruit Machines

It's easy to blame them for having no willpower, but it's not entirely their fault. Those slot addicts aren't just driven by greed or sloth. They're made that way by machines designed to create addictive impulses and promote destructive behaviour.

As the image to the left shows – the Pokies play you and not the other way around. The sooner you realise this the sooner you stand a chance of beating them once and for all. Visit PokiesPlayYou.org.au to learn more

Psychologists have found that slot addiction starts with over-stimulation of the reward centers in the brain. Ever wondered why slot machines light up and play music the moment you get a single chip back, even if you've lost 99 chips on that bet? Well, all that stimulation can trick your brain into thinking you've won – whether that's true or not. And because all humans crave rewards, our brains start to crave that stimulation and we start to crave the slot machines. That's how the vegetable is born.

Learn more about the various design aspects that combine to create the electronic morphine and crack cocaine of gambling that Poker machines are often referred.

Ka-Ching! Pokie Nation Documentary exposed and copyright laws bypassed with amazing Infographic! Click here to access and share this awesome resource.

Entertainment? More Like Zombie-tainment

While we all gamble to get away from our worries for a little while, vegetables take that to an extreme. Ever notice how pokie addicts ignore you when you speak to them, can't seem to make eye contact and are basically the most socially awkward people on Earth? That's because they aren't inhabiting the same world as you and I – not mentally, anyway. Psychologists have found that the escapist element of slot machines contributes heavily to its addictive potential – especially since it's enhanced by fantastical game plots and otherworldly visuals. When vegetables give themselves over to the pokie world, real-world responsibilities like jobs and family, and real-world interactions, become alien to them.

Conclusion and Take Away

So if there's a lesson in all of this, it's that pokies and slot machines are to be treated with great caution. If you can, play online, where you're free from the environment of the casino floor where the absence of windows and clocks combines with the positive reinforcing sounds from so many machines encourages you to play longer and harder than you might normally.

Playing online pokies might not necessarily be the best answer but for the thousands of us who enjoy a poke from time to time and can happily take it or leave it, the online option provides a much safer and more enjoyable gambling experience.

Jump over to any of our recommend online casinos and check out the incredible range of free and real money pokies and casino games and find out why so many of your neighbours have already made the switch.

You may not be convinced but at the end of the day it comes down to the simple facts:-

Noone wants to talk to a Vegetable playing a Fruit Machine
– and you most definitely cannot win friends with salad!

It’s just a fact is all.

Gambling Reform Needed More Than Ever – The Facts Are Overwhelming!

Ka-Ching! Pokie Nation first exposed us to how truly insidious pokies really are – opening our eyes to the extent of corruption that keeps these addiction machines in circulation whilst actively growing their numbers and the number of regular players.
These players are the future addicts and contributors to the almost $5 billion a year that the Australian Government makes from Gambling tax and related revenue.

And as the stats continue to break new records and put Australia on top of the biggest losers pile the evidence for a need for gambling reform grows exponentially. In fact this article posted yesterday on RSLPokies.com reveals how Australia have smashed all previous records, losing a record $23 billion in the last financial year – check out the article HERE

Australians Lose More Per Capita Than Any Other Nation

Australians lost more than $1200 each through gambling last year, according to fresh figures. We know that behind the averages, many of those who lose the most can least afford it. These are shocking numbers, laying bare the extent of social harm done by gambling.

The data from Australian Gambling Statistics reveals Australian punters lost almost $23 billion last year, $5.8 billion in Victoria. While there has been an explosion in sports betting, up 30 per cent, by far the biggest cause of gambling losses is poker machines, which alone are responsible for $11.6 billion down the drain. This, as public health expert Dr Charles Livingstone says, is the “600-pound gorilla of Australian gambling”.

But It’s The Pokies We Need To Be Wary Of

More than 75 per cent of those directly experiencing harm from gambling use poker machines. It is in this sector that gaming reform advocates such as Tim Costello, Senator Nick Xenophon and MP Andrew Wilkie have long called for reforms including $1 maximum bets and mandatory pre-commitment on poker machines. Banning the practice of credit betting – gambling with money that you don’t even have – has recently been added to this list.

OnlinePokies.com.au supports these reforms and urges the federal and Victorian governments to enact them, showing a genuine commitment to reducing the harm caused by problem gambling. Just as the amounts of money lost to gambling have grown rapidly in recent years, so too has our understanding of this behaviour. We know now that many who gamble are addicts and that gambling irresponsibly has a drastic impact on not just the punter, but also the wider community, in particular their families and friends.

Sports betting has rapidly drawn a younger cohort to gambling. Anyone with a smart phone can bet anywhere, any time, and the many different ways to bet on sporting fixtures is dizzying. All of this is also aggressively marketed. Calls for reforms are not wowserism or the thin edge of the wedge towards banning gambling outright. It has been well established that prohibition is an ineffective way to minimise harm in the case of addiction. Regulation and education are far better ways to reduce the damage to the individual and the community, as the internationally recognised success of this nation’s long-standing policy to reduce tobacco smoking demonstrates.

While there has been some welcome action, such as the Victorian government’s recent ban on betting ads near schools and public transport, successive governments have stopped short of bigger changes, particularly around pokies.

The X-Men of Pokie Reform Can Only Do So Much…

It is fair for critics such as Xenophon and Costello to argue governments have failed on gambling reform. While governments continue to benefit so directly from pokies, they leave themselves open to charges that self-interest is behind their lack of will to act. The politics of pokies is as insidious as the machines themselves.

The Government are actually the biggest pokie addicts of them all – and THAT is a problem
Governments are metaphorically addicted to money from gambling. In Victoria, for example, about $2.5 billion a year is lost to electronic gaming machines, of which $1 billion goes to the government – representing close to 10 per cent of the entire tax take.

There is a desperate need to combat this problem. Xenophon is committed to reintroducing his proposed gaming legislation, which will include limiting advertising and banning credit betting. Human Services Minister Alan Tudge has also promised to introduce legislation, and we urge the government to commit to genuine reforms.

The financial losses and social harm caused by problem gambling are undeniable – and are fuelled by addiction, not healthy social behaviour.

What Can You Do?

If you want to make a difference and have your voice heard then the best thing you can do is join the Alliance for Gambling Reform and add your signature to the growing list of Australians who have had enough and want to see positive chance for the first time in our illustrious pokie history

Follow the link and/or image below to add your name to the growing list and tell the government once and for all that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

I stand against Poker Machines Designed to Addict!

The Top 6 Social Casino Games on Facebook in 2016

We live in a fast paced and socially (dis)connected world so it comes as no surprise that Social Casino games and Facebook based Free Slots apps have grown in popularity. Exponentially in fact. And while anti-gambling advocates cry foul and seek to curb the rapid growth and popularity of games like Zynga Poker and Heart of Vegas Slots, the rest of us see them for the harmless (not to mention free) entertainment that they are. Nothing more, nothing less. So in the interest of not over-analysing everything or being a nanny state loving whinge-a-lot let’s explore the top rated games and see what all the fuss is about…

Free Facebook Slots Apps – Putting the Social Gaming back in Online Gambling

I don't know about you, but one of my favourite things about casinos is the opportunities to meet people, socialize, make friends and have an all-round great time. Online casinos have always suffered a little in that respect, but the advent of social casino games on Facebook is changing all that. Now, you can engage in some truly top-notch casino games while doing a little social media surfing, and who knows – you might end up adding a few new Facebook friends while you're at it. Here are the top 6 social casino games providing free Facebook slots in 2016.

Heart of Vegas – Free Facebook Slots

Heart of Vegas Slots is a free Facebook based Social Casino app that needs no introduction – not to the seasoned pokie players and social casino gamblers amongst us. Heart of Vegas is owned by Product Madness which is owned by Aristocrat – yep the same people who bring us the most popular real money pokies and slot machines we have all come to know and love (and loathe) playing for real at our local casino club and pub. Thanks to the Heart of Vegas Slots app players can enjoy playing free Aristocrat pokies online or on their mobile – with over 66 titles to choose from and an ever growing range from the ever popular folks at Aristocrat Gaming and Leisure. Check out our Heart of Vegas Review and then see how to get $10 million Heart of Vegas Free Coins daily!

DoubleDown Casino – Free Facebook Slots

DoubleDown casino isn't just one of the most popular social casino games on Facebook – it's one of the most popular games on Facebook, period. With over 1 million players per day, this app really delivers in the thrills department, from the massive jackpot in its Mighty Millions competition and tons of free chip bonuses to the award-winning, ultra-modern Pixies of the Forest slot game, exclusive to the DoubleDown app.

House of Fun – Free Facebook Slots

House of Fun's fans are among the most passionate on Facebook. An average of 62 000 House of Fun-related Facebook updates goes viral each month, making it easily the most talked-about social casino app. Their selection of slot games is unparalleled, ranging from cute games like Lady Bugs to complex pokies like Aztec Chieftess which boast production quality to rival the top-end pokie producers. Check out our article where we compare House of Fun and Heart of Vegas.

Texas Hold' Em – Free Facebook …Poker

Texas Hold' Em (formerly Zynga Poker) needs no introduction – in fact the image above provides a quote from ESPN that says it all really. Players winning huge pots after pushing all-in just can't resist sharing their successes on Facebook, resulting in a deluge of Texas Hold' Em status updates that thrill and annoy in equal measure. But even if you can't stand the incessant Texas Hold' Em posts, you'd be missing out if you didn't at least give this game a fair shot. With some huge tournaments, hundreds of cash-game tables for all bankroll sizes and over 5 million monthly users, this app has plenty to offer poker fans.

Jackpot Party Casino Slots – Free Facebook Slots

Jackpot Party takes the social aspect of social casino games seriously. You can send friends coins, answer trivia questions to earn free spin bonuses and participate in buzzing forums where players discuss everything from the game's latest pokie releases to pokie strategy. Jackpot Party provides players with the ability to play their favourite real world slots from WMS Gaming and enjoy them for free – which of course is one of the main reasons for Jackpot Party’s popularity and inherent success.

Caesar's Casino – Free Facebook Slots

This social casino app is doing the world-renowned Caesar brand justice. The designers have ported some of Caesar's Palace's most popular pokie games into a snazzy browser-based format, so you can enjoy the very finest in modern online pokies without shelling out a single cent. Casino snobs turning their nose up at play money games clearly haven't tried out Caesar's Casino on Facebook. Meanwhile the Caesar’s Entertainment group continues to expand their reach and market acquisition with the recent purchase of Slotomania, the already highly popular and hugely successful facebook based social casino slots game.

Woolworths Reward Addiction With Pokies Card

Woolworths have already established themselves as the Pokie People and one of the most destructive forces ever to impact this great southern land of ours. In fact we were recently saddened to read that Woolworths and their co-owned ALH Group were actively targeting children and families in the pubs and clubs – so this latest news is actually not surprising at all. Woolworths have well and truly let their feelings be known and I for one would like to be the first to ask them to kindly GO AND FUCK THEMSELVES SLOWLY IN THE ARSE WITH A STOP SIGN (top first)

It’s Fly Buys for Pokie Addicts and Gamblers in General

Anti-poker machine campaigners have slammed supermarket giant Woolworths for introducing a frequent gambling rewards card for poker machines in its string of pokie pubs.

What is it exactly?

The card, designed by poker machine manufacturer Bally Technologies, allows marketing messages to be flashed up on the gambler’s machine as they play, meaning they can order drinks from the machine without interrupting play.

Anti-pokies campaigner Paul Bendat agreed the card is “essentially a Fly Buys for gambling”. “You sign up for a card, you give them a bunch of your personal details and every time you gamble on one of their poker machines, you insert the card,” Mr Bendat said.

“[Voluntary pre-commitment] is the cornerstone of the harm-minimisation policy of the current Victorian Government, ALP, and the past Coalition. And [This card] is entirely counterproductive. There is no morality in it.”

Woolworths’ move is in direct response to government calls for harm minimisation measures to prevent problem gambling. In December, the ALH Group, which is 96 per cent owned by Woolworths, will roll out the Monty’s Reward card in Victoria and Queensland as its “voluntary pre-commitment” measure, after it was piloted in New South Wales. Independent senator Nick Xenophon branded Woolworths’ decision as cynical.

“What was meant to be a harm minimisation measure has been turned by Woolworths into a harm-exacerbation measure by using this card,” he said. “This isn’t so much a loyalty card as an addiction card.”

…an addiction card they can now renew online in four easy steps I might add!

Voluntary Pre-Commitment SCHERMITMANT!

Buried at the end of the card’s brochure is a paragraph on voluntary pre-commitment – which means the gambler has the option to limit their spending – however, the pre-commitment only lasts for 24 hours. (SEE BELOW for copy of Monty's Rewards Ts&Cs)

http://www.montysrewards.com.au/docs/montys_Ts&Cs.pdf

Voluntary Pre-Commitment 12.1 For Members utilising Monty's Rewards at Participating Venues other than in Victoria: 12.1.1 Members may utilise Voluntary Pre-Commitment in conjunction with their Monty's Card. Procedures for doing so are set out in the brochure accompanying the Monty's Rewards application form and as varied and/or replaced from time to time by ALH as detailed on the Website. 12.1.2 If utilised, the Voluntary Pre-Commitment will allow a Member to set a limit on: (a) the amount of time, in a 24 hour period determined by ALH, that the Member may play Games using their Monty's Card; and/or (b) the Member's net loss, in a 24 hour period determined by ALH, on Games played using their Monty's Card. 12.1.3 If a limit referred to in clause 12.1.2 above is reached, the Member will receive an electronic notification superimposed on the screen of the machine upon which the Game is then being played. At that time, although the Member may continue playing Games, the Member will cease to earn Monty's Points as a result of any further Games played before the commencement of trading at a Participating Venue on the next trading day. 12.1.4 If a Member has set a limit referred to in clause 12.1.2 above, any new limit set by the Member that increases the amount of time or net loss, will not take effect until commencement of trading at a Participating Venue on the next trading day.

WoolWorths Are Commited To The Responsible Service of Gaming… MY ARSE!

Let’s open this can of bullshit and expose Woolworths Limited for the lying bunch of fuckwits that they are – because what Woolies deem to be ‘effective measures to minimise gambling harm’ is quite simply not.

Time to Open a Can!

You comfortable? Because I have a feeling this is going to be a long and revealing look into the depressing disconnect between what the ALH Group SHOULD be doing and what the ALH Group ARE doing.

I have taken the liberty of supplying the ALH Group Responsible Service of Gaming requirements and commitments are – please see below where I will summarise each point and then highlight why it’s a PILE OF BULLSHIT

We have a clear commitment to be Australia's most responsible hotel and gaming operator – proudly going above and beyond what's required by legislation – Bruce Mathieson Jnr CEO ALH Group

ALH Charter – Responsible Hotels and Gaming Commitment (544042d98e8a7.pdf)

All gaming machines to have voluntary pre-commitment limits installed by 2014 – two years ahead of any legislation.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-17/woolworths-slammed-by-anti-pokies-groups-gambling-rewards-card/6784210

Comprehensive training including full day annual training for management and key staff at all hotels – mandated.

Report Findings However Indicated Quite the Opposite:

No ALH Staff that we spoke to had ever received any formal training on how to recognize the signs of pokie addiction and/or what steps they should take to reduce the harm and provide the support needed.

NSW Department of Liquor and Gaming –

Responsible Conduct of Gambling

Gaming machines are allowed in registered clubs and hotels. Licensees and venue staff have responsibilities when operating gaming machines.

Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) helps to ensure compliance with the law, reduce gambling related issues and to promote safety (harm minimisation) in venues where there are gaming machines.

Why do you need RCG training?

RCG training is mandatory if your work duties involve gaming machines. This includes, but is not limited to:

licensees of a full hotel licence
secretaries of a registered club
staff with gaming machine duties
staff who pay out winnings
staff who patrol or serve in the gaming machine area

Whether you are a staff member or an employer, you may be fined if you work without a valid competency card, or allow employees to work without one. Find out more about fines.

RCG training course
The RCG training course helps to promote safety in venues where gaming machines are operated.

So You Need an Active Competency cards

A competency card is similar to a driver’s licence or proof of age card, and has a record of training you’ve undertaken to be legally allowed to work in the liquor and gaming industries. The courses recorded on it are:

A competency card is proof you’ve completed training in one or all of these courses.

Please Explain Woolworths Limited!?

This completely contradicts what the ALH Group themselves claim within their Responsible Service of Gaming –

A key focus is our e-learning module providing staff the skills to approach and interact with customers who may be indicating signs of problems with their gambling, and how our self-exclusion program operates.

We partner with agencies such as Gamblers' Help in each state. We want ALH Group staff to learn from these agencies how best to promote the message of responsible gambling. We have established partnerships with The Salvation Army, gambling research experts and mental health organisations. This recognises that problem gambling is a complex issue and requires a multi-level approach.

And Yet We Found The Complete Opposite

Every staff member knew what intoxication looked like and were strict in their adherence to the guidelines of the RSA charter that requires that person or person to be ejected from the premises.

If a gambler spends too much and cannot control their addiction they are not only encouraged back into the ALH owned venue through rewards and membership incentives, they are also forced to eject themselves from the premises' – and even that is something that has to be done through a process that takes a day or two to come into effect and worse still, is only valid for 24 hours anyway?!

Woolworths Give The Ultimate FUCK YOU With their Gaming Charter

Hotel and Gaming Charter. Rigorous internal and external audits.

Introduced in 2010 and updated in 2012 the Hotel and Gaming Charter outlines the companies mission statement and goals in relation to the responsible service of alcohol and gaming. The 11 statements' or promises (hollow words to allow the government to tick the responsible gambling box basically)

We will list and then proceed to tear these 11 promises apart and put the Pauline on Woolies – Please Explain indeed.

Gaming rooms are being screened or separated from other areas of the hotel at all ALH venues.

No, no they are not – see report

Partnerships with expert groups, including Gambler's Help in each state, and the Salvation Army.

David Schwarz – Responsible Gambling Ambassador For the last five years, the ALH Group has worked with David Schwarz, a well-known former professional AFL footballer and reformed problem gambler, as its Responsible Gambling Ambassador. David provides employee education and customer awareness about the importance of asking for help if your gambling becomes a problem. David is available for our staff to discuss any gambling problems they or their families and friends may be experiencing.

This hotel offers a self-exclusion program – 1800858858

Woolworths really are the Pokie People!

The 11 Promises – and We’ll Tear These Ones a New One Shortly Too

1 We provide a safe, friendly environment in which all hotel customers can socialise and enjoy themselves in a good atmosphere.
2 We provide good value, good quality meals and family friendly dining experiences.
3 We believe we have a shared responsibility, along with individuals, families, communities and governments, to ensure responsible behaviour.
4 We do not conduct promotions which encourage irresponsible drinking.
5 We restrict gaming room access to adults and ensure gaming rooms are screened or separated from other areas of the hotel, so as to not to attract children.
6 We were the first national hotel operator to support voluntary pre-commitment – a system that helps players stick to their limit by nominating maximum spending or time limits on gaming machines. This system will be implemented at all ALH Hotels by 2014.
7 We train our staff to be aware of behaviour that may indicate gambling problems and to provide appropriate patron support. We require all ALH hotel managers to complete additional advanced responsible gaming training.
8 We partner with expert groups and specialists who can help staff and patrons deal with problem gambling, including Gambler's Help (Australia's leading professional counselling service) and the Salvation Army.
9 We ensure that ATM machines, where approved, are provided for the convenience of all patrons in a safe, central location and not in gaming areas.
10 We support local communities in numerous ways, including working with charities to raise money through our hotels.
11 We conduct internal and external audits to ensure we deliver on our commitment to be Australia's most responsible operator of hotels.

House of Fun Vs Heart of Vegas – The Battle of the Facebook Slots

Facebook slots have taken off in a big way. As the social casino market continues to expand, two slot games stand out head and shoulders above the rest with a fantastic selection of games, boasting both beloved classics and new games developed specially for social media. I'm talking of course, about Hearts of Vegas Slots and House of Fun Slots. If you had to pick one, which would it be? These two free social casino games are the top rated Facebook slots games available – but deciding which one is better really does come down to personal opinion. Here’s another three factors to take into account when deciding which of these awesome free slots games you want to invest your time in.

Game Selection

Both of these Facebook apps feature over a hundred slot games, so everyone from the casual pokie player to the seasoned slots veteran is sure to find at least a couple of games that they enjoy. House of Fun Slots boasts plenty of classic Vegas games like Big Cats and Rubies, while Hearts of Vegas Slots, being an Aristocrat app, features the full range of Aristocrat pokies, many custom-built for mobile gaming. The variety of games is just stunning in both cases, but Hearts of Vegas has an advantage since it has a virtual monopoly on Aristocrat pokies for Facebook, and Aristocrat Gaming's polish and experience really make the difference here. If you just picked up and played a random game from both apps, you're far more likely to land on a gem with Hearts of Vegas.

Bonuses

To keep things exciting, both apps offer a variety of bonuses – some are loyalty bonuses awarded to gamers for each consecutive day or play, others are special raffles or sweepstakes that can yield thousands of coins and free spins for the lucky winners. House of Fun Slots, however, has the edge here. Its Wheel of Fun yields some amazing prizes and their promotions are updated weekly, keeping things fresh. Keep in mind that because these games are all based on free play and are not legally allowed to offer real money gameplay, the no deposit casino bonus offers you have come to appreciate will not apply here

The winner however has to go to Heart of Vegas simply because we have exclusively shared with you how to legally and legitimately how to get 10 million + Heart of Vegas Free Coins everyday. This means you can keep on playing – even after the energizer bunny has gone to bed.

User-Friendliness

Both apps feature an intuitive user interface that even a tech dinosaur could master in a matter of minutes. Of course, as with most social casino apps, neither game is absolutely glitch-free. They're generally smooth running, but you might get the occasional screen freeze or jerky framerate. This is where Hearts of Vegas gets the upper hand. Their customer support team is absolutely phenomenal, delivering timely and concise replies, and on the whole Aristocrat pokies just run better.

Of course, this isn't a choice we'll ever have to make – avid gamers can enjoy both apps at once. If you had to choose, however, our money's on Heart of Vegas Slots, which at the moment just has a slight edge over House of Fun Slots in game selection and ease of use.

Free Coins and an abundance of bonuses and player incentives – Now THAT’S User Friendliness

Learn more by checking out our indepth Heart of Vegas Review over on PlayPokies.com.au

Looking for something more profound to think about?

Read this article where we discuss the fine line between online gaming and online gambling and ask the question – when is too young too young – and at what point do we redefine what gambling and games of chance actually are – really interesting article actually, check it out HERE

3 Things You Didn't Know about Packer's New Barangaroo Crown Casino

As you might've read in the papers, James Packer's newest construction project – to add a lavish $2 billion Crown casino resort to the Sydney skyline – has just received the final go-ahead from the NSW Planning Commission. The Barangaroo Crown Casino, tipped to become the most luxurious casino resort in the Sydney harbour area upon completion, garnered a slew of media attention before the project was even formally commenced. In case you haven't been keeping up with the coverage, here are three things you probably didn't know about Packer's latest casino!

The Barangaroo Crown Casino Resort will be the first six-star hotel in Sydney.

If James Packer has his way, the Barangaroo Crown Resort will literally be off-the-charts. He's promising a six-star hotel, but the official international rating system, as well as Australia's formal accommodation rating system (the Triple A system), only goes up to five stars. How is Crown Resorts going to top luxury hotel stalwarts like the Park Hyatt or The Darling and convince customers that five stars just isn't enough? Well, for starters, the building design is absolutely phenomenal – the faÃ§ade will resemble three petals winding and twisting together, veiled in white glass. Moreover, the Barangaroo Crown Casino will be the tallest building in Sydney, with an estimated height of over 270 metres. If this modernist vision is realised, Sydney's first six-star hotel may well be in the pipeline.

The building design aims to balance the private and public good.

Crown Resorts' initial announcement was met with an outcry from small sections of the community concerned that such a dramatic alteration to the Sydney skyline might have environmental or aesthetic drawbacks. Responding to these criticisms, particularly from commentators who had hoped the building site would be used for the construction of a public park, Crown Resorts modified the building design to add additional green spaces and allow public access to the upper floors, which will deliver panoramic views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The planning permission has been made conditional on the fulfilment of these promises.

The Barangaroo Crown Casino Resort is designed by Wilkinson Eyre.

Haven't heard of Wilkinson Eyre Architects? Well, you'll definitely recognise some of their buildings. Some of the most iconic architecture of the 21^st century was designed by WEA, including the London 2012 Basketball Arena and the Gardens by the Bay botanic conservatories in Singapore. Their cutting-edge design for the Barangaroo Crown, described by founder Chris Wilkinson as an inhabited artwork, suggests that the newest Crown Resort project may well become the most prestigious building in WEA's impressive portfolio.

AUSTRALIA

NEW ZEALAND

UNITED KINGDOM

UNITED STATES

RUSSIA

JAPAN

MACAU

FRANCE

NORWAY

IRELAND

What Used to Take An Ocean Now Takes a Few Drop(kick)s

The Official Word on Casino Cheats

Common Scams and Easy Casino Cheats

Crazy Casino Scams and Less Common Cheats

4 AFL Footy Tips that Suck Worse Than Collingwood

Backing Teams Because of a Hot Streak

Randomly Increasing Stakes

Too Many Sportsbooks

Betting every weekend

Australia's Growing Gambling Crisis – It's the Crown or the Country

Will a Gambling Republic Reduce Harm and Minimise Pokie Addiction?

Packer Lacks Local Support – Not That He Gives a Toss

The Southport Spit Casino Proposal Looks …Unsightly

The Ever Growing Crown of Thorns

*Addiction by Design by Natasha Dow Schull

Play Pokies for Fun – Don’t be a Vegetable Playing Fruit Machines

Entertainment? More Like Zombie-tainment

Conclusion and Take Away

Australians Lose More Per Capita Than Any Other Nation

But It’s The Pokies We Need To Be Wary Of

The X-Men of Pokie Reform Can Only Do So Much…

What Can You Do?

Free Facebook Slots Apps – Putting the Social Gaming back in Online Gambling

Heart of Vegas – Free Facebook Slots

DoubleDown Casino – Free Facebook Slots

House of Fun – Free Facebook Slots

Texas Hold' Em – Free Facebook …Poker

Jackpot Party Casino Slots – Free Facebook Slots

Caesar's Casino – Free Facebook Slots

It’s Fly Buys for Pokie Addicts and Gamblers in General

What is it exactly?

Voluntary Pre-Commitment SCHERMITMANT!

Time to Open a Can!

Responsible Conduct of Gambling

Why do you need RCG training?

So You Need an Active Competency cards

Please Explain Woolworths Limited!?

And Yet We Found The Complete Opposite

Woolworths Give The Ultimate FUCK YOU With their Gaming Charter

Woolworths really are the Pokie People!

The 11 Promises – and We’ll Tear These Ones a New One Shortly Too

Game Selection

Bonuses

User-Friendliness

The Barangaroo Crown Casino Resort will be the first six-star hotel in Sydney.

The building design aims to balance the private and public good.

The Barangaroo Crown Casino Resort is designed by Wilkinson Eyre.

Further reading and resouces