Now we don’t normally cover news like this, but I found this particularly interesting as I have just returned from Australia and I was amazed how common the “pokie lounges” are out there. A good percentage of bars had a separate room dedicated to just pokies. So it comes as no great surprise to me that they take so much money, although Au$8 bn in a country with a population of around 20 million is a little frightening.
Southern Australians bet over Au$8 billion on poker machines in 2007 according to the country’s Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commission. The figure shows a rise of over Au$3 billion since 2001.Gambling minister Paul Caica responded to calls that the rise had fuelled an increase in problem gambling by saying that the state government was continuing to work closely with the gaming industry and the Concern Sector to develop a “comprehensive range of approaches that directly target problem gambling.”
On a different note, for those of you who may remember, I said I was going to be on the look out for some arcades whilst I was in Oz. Rest assured I found some and reviews will be coming your way soon.
