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Articles on Poker machines

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Games like Pokémon GO cleverly exploit our psychology in the way they dole our rewards to keep players hooked. Shutterstock

The power of rewards and why we seek them out

The Pokemon GO craze has tapped in to our desire to seek out rewards. But there different types of rewards in life, each designed to capture our attention, even train our behaviour.
How could Maurice Blackburn prove that poker machine gamblers might be misled by the ‘losses disguised as wins’ technique? AAP/Paul Jeffers

Poker machines and the law: when is a win not a win?

Law firm Maurice Blackburn that plans to use Australian consumer law to argue that poker machine operators are engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct to trick gamblers into using poker machines.
The Kirner government passed legislation in 1991 to enable a duopoly to establish poker machine venues in local hotels and clubs in Victoria. AAP/Dan Peled

Pokies in Victoria: Joan Kirner’s difficult legacy

Joan Kirner was persuaded by an eager pro-gambling lobby that the financial benefits would save Victoria – and her government. But they certainly didn’t save her government.
Your odds of winning are greatly improved if you own a casino.

Losses disguised as wins, the science behind casino profits

Gambling is good business, or at least a profitable one. According to the American Gaming Association, in 2012 the 464 commercial casinos in the US served 76.1 million patrons and grossed $US37.34 billion…
Gambling products are only harmful when people consume too much of them. Carol Von Canon

Responsible gambling: why occasional use is generally safe

Most people are aware of the harms of problem gambling. Playing pokie machines, placing bets and visiting casinos can be a very expensive form of entertainment. And when gamblers lose more than they can…
The Coalition’s policy to combat problem gambling is treatment focused, excludes potential online competitors and makes no funding commitment. What influenced its creation? AAP/Dan Peled

Coalition ‘problem gambling’ policy: putting the fox in charge of the henhouse?

The Coalition has released its policy “to help problem gamblers” under that very title. If the betting markets are any guide, the Coalition is poised to win government on September 7, so the likelihood…
Wilkie: The poker machine reforms are the “best we can get in the current circumstances”. AAP/Lukas Coch

Wilkie gives reluctant support to weaker pokie reforms

Watered-down poker machine reforms designed to protect problem gamblers will go ahead after Tasmanian Independent MP Andrew Wilkie reluctantly gave his support to the Government legislation. Mr Wilkie…

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