Texas Hold 'Em - Stealing the USA's Young, How Long Before Ours?

The latest trend among youth in the USA can have devastating lifelong consequences - Texas Hold 'Em Poker. No longer an underground fad being played by a few disenfranchised teenagers, this brand of poker has taken US teenagers by storm, and is becoming such a problem that mainstream news media such as ABC News (USA) have just broadcast a major feature on it. (Thanks to Arnie Wexler for bringing this article to my attention.)

Major cable networks in the US have programs such as Celebrity Poker Showdown, and the Word Series of Poker and major hollywood stars such as Ben Affleck and Martin Sheen are involved. The programs have generated high ratings and have large followings.

Unfortunately this has filtered into the hearts and minds of America's youth. We can only hope that this dangerous trend doesn't follow the usual progression of migrating to Australia. If it does we will have another front to defend against the growth of problem gambling.

Poker may be fun for some, but gambling is more than just a game, and you can lose much more than money.

GG

World's Gamblers Lose US$208 Billion (A$290 Billion)

Also from the 3rd Global Gambling Review: Double or Quits? are the following startling figures (in US Dollars)

Total Lost by gamblers for the year 2003 - $208 Billion up 12.2% from $185B in 2000

Gambling Yield forecast to reach $250B in 2008 and $275B in 2012

GG

Gambling increases as world economy slumps

Everyone who claims that gambling is an economic driver need only look at this press release from Casino City Press. Casino City Press distribute Global Gambling Review, a bi-annual assessment of gambling industries world wide produced by Global Betting and Gaming Consultants (GBGC) in the UK.

The latest edition, the 3rd, titled "Double or Quits", examines gambling markets world wide in terms of size, revenue, turnover and yield and includes all forms of gambling including online.

Warwick Bartlett, Lead Partner for GBGC hits the nail on the head when he summarises his findings:

"It is the global slowdown which has acted as the primary catalyst for expansion."
"We are seeing governments deregulate gambling in order to raise what are essentially voluntary taxes."

This desperate unashamed grab for a share of the billions lost by gamblers, has made governments turn a blind eye to the disatrous consequences that careless expansion has created.

However many governments, such as those in many US states are beginning to learn the lessons of allowing hotel and club based gambling, and not paying attention to the damage that gambling can cause on communities.

As many states debate propositions on gambling, some of which will be voted on by citizens, most a stating that allowing gaming machines in venues such as bars, clubs and hotels in surburban areas is not the way to go and is highly damaging to the communities. The UK government has clearly stated that the Victorian model is not the way to go and causes significant harm to the community.

So now that the Victorian government has an opportunity to do something about it through the current relicensing process, do you think they will? I doubt it unfortunately and we can only expect greater harms over the next twenty years.

Unfortunately the government doesn't think they need Gambler's Help to give up their dependence on gambling, the believe they need GAMBLERS HELP! to keep the state's coffers filled with revenue.

GG

Study: Problem Gamblers use gambling to escape

New research by colleague, Kim Karathansis of Gambler's Help West Hume provides further evidence that problem gamblers use gambling as a form of escape, in particular from uncontrollable life events.

The research also found that females are more likely to report stressful life events, often the reasoning behind their problem gambling behaviour.

The findings are also consistent with research conducted within Australia and abroad, and the findings of previous studies of Gambler's Help clients which have shown that more than 90% of female clients who report poker machines as their problematic gambling form claim they gamble as a form of escape.

So if this is proven again and again, why isn't something done about it. We, at Gambler's Help try through community education, and encouraging and campaigning for harm minimisation and consumer protection measures. However governments shouldn't need any more proof that something needs to be done, as it is evident that gambling is a magnet for the vulnerable and just sends them into a spiral of further problems.

How many times do we need to prove that gambling is harmful before something is done?

GG

World's Second Richest Man Shares His Wisdom - "Gambling is Bad Economics"

Warren Buffett, the world's second richest man according to Forbes Magazine with a net worth of $42.9 Billion USD and rising is well known for his financial and economic knowledge. He knows how to make money and how other people lose it.

Gambling Watch Global quotes an article in the Journal-Star of Lincoln, Nebraska in which Buffett describes how he taught his children about gambling.

When his kids were little Warren Buffett bought a slot machine, installed it at home and allowed his three children to feed their allowance, dime by dime, into it. It was one of the best $25,000 investments he made, Buffett said during a half-hour conversation about gambling that aired Saturday night on KPTM in Omaha and KOLN/KGIN in Lincoln.

Buffett, an investment billionaire who still lives part-time in Omaha, said he figured he could give the kids any kind of allowance he wanted, as long as it was in dimes, because

"I’d have it back by nightfall."

And what his children learned, Buffett said, is that

"you can pull the handle of the slot machine, because you pulled handles back then, and it might be good exercise, but it is bad economics."

In the long run, he said, "the machine always wins." Buffett acknowledged that he wagers occasionally.

"I have bet on my golf game, and it cost me money over the years."

Buffett knows that you can't win at gambling, but he goes further stating his view that gambling is "bad economics and bad public policy." Buffett is putting his money where his mouth is by not only publicly supporting proposals against gambling in his home state of Nebraska in the USA, but by also donating funds to campaigns against these proposals.

Buffett refutes arguments that gambling generates economic development:

Gambling is not economic development but a transfer of money," Buffett said in the interview. The money, he said, goes three places: taxes to the state, operating expenses and profits to the owners.

This is true for all jurisdictions worldwide, not just in the USA. The only people that profit are operators and governments - gamblers are guaranteed to lose.

I also agree with Buffett's statement that "I don’t think the state should get in the business of spreading an addiction." Governments need to take more responsible for the consequences of gambling.

Buffett is not only wealthy but wise - gambling does harm and has no economic benefits apart from profits for operators and governments. There may be an entertainment value but at what cost.

Buffett is sharing his wisdom, and we all can learn something.

GG

Blow Up The Pokies - Gambling affects more than just the gambler

Many Australians will know of the band The Whitlams, their biggest hit being "No Aphrodisiac" a few years ago. Many of you will also know of their top 40 hit in 2000, "Blow Up The Pokies."

As someone who is not a big fan, (but I don't mind their music) or someone that needs to know the words to every song, I always assumed this song was about the removal of live music from local hotels and clubs throughout Australia. These spaces were almost always used for gaming rooms filled with poker machines.

However today I learned (many others probably already knew) that "Blow Up The Pokies" tells of lead singer and songwriter, Tim Freedman's view on the problem gambling of someone close to him, former Whitlams' bass guitarist, Andy Lewis. Lewis who left the band in 1995, commited suicide to escape his gambling problems in 2000, just before the single was released.

Learning this, I decided to take a look at the lyrics of the song. They tell an amazingly familiar and accurate picture of what its like to know someone with a gambling problem. So many people are affected - partners, children, friends. It also mentions how helpless people can feel when they are stuck in the cycle of problem gambling.

It also makes comment on why we have legal gambling. Governments encouraged gambling and share in the profits, they need to do more to prevent harm and to take care of those experiencing harm.

If there is one thing I can say is that if you find yourself in this situation whether you are the gambler, or affected by one, seek help. No gambling problem is worth losing your life over, and it is something that can be conquered. It is also something that you don't need to fight alone.

Tim Freedman may want to blow up the pokies, but first we need to save the people inside.

GG

Morality and Gambling Advertising - How far is too far?

Many jurisdictions have limited the advertising of gambling as a way of protecting the community from harm. There are however still many places (including for the moment Victoria) that still allow various forms of gambling advertising.

Content in the ads we see here usually promote jackpots or new games. Some people would call these ads immoral, as they would any type of advertising of gambling at all. However our ads are tame compared to those that appear in the world's gambling mecca, Las Vegas.

However Las Vegas Gaming Regulators are up in arms over the advertising by the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. With ads bordering on the obscene, this casino which targets young 'legal' gamblers has ads which breach general community standards on sexual content.

Regulators say the signs breach a gaming regulation that cites an operator's "failure to conduct advertising and public relations in accordance with decency, dignity, good taste, honesty and inoffensiveness"

Examples of the signs (may be offensive to some) include this one for the National Rodeo Finals and this clearly targeted at young men.

The Las Vegas Sun describes some of the content of the Regulators complaint:

An advertisement published in the Las Vegas Weekly newspaper around Nov. 17 shows a man and a woman on a gaming table, surrounded by playing cards and poker chips, with the caption,"There's always a temptation to cheat."
Another Nov. 17 ad in Las Vegas Weekly reads, "At the Hard Rock Hotel, we believe in your Monday night rights: large quantities of prescription stimulants (and) having wives in two states ... Tell your wives you are going; if they are hot, bring them along."

This is a casino which apart from targeting young people, is just down the road from UNLV, the main university in town and is famous for having various types of sexual misbehaviour occur in public on casino grounds and car parks.

But worse still, when faced with penalties for this type of advertising, they respond with this, their latest billboard. I will leave the meaning of the sign up to you, but it is fairly obvious.

Is this indicative of the moral ineptitude that some proponents of gambling will demonstrate in order to maximise profits.

We are just lucky that it doesn't happen here, but even without it is the types of gambling conducted in Victoria and other parts of Australia and the world any more morally correct?

What are you thoughts?

GG.

Can We Be Partners? Can We Be Friends? - Collaboration between the Gambling Industry and Responsible Gambling Organisations

It seems to be apparent that the only way that action on responsible gambling can occur is if all stakeholders come to the table and work together. This may be good in theory but is it possible in practice?

Queensland have gone down this line with their responsible gambling advisory committee which advises the government on gambling policy. This seems to have been a successful approach so far.

Canada has gone a step further with its newly formed Canadian Partnership for Responsible Gambling which involves all the gaming operators in Canada. They describe themselves as the following:

The Canadian Partnership for Responsible Gambling is a collaboration of non-profit organizations, gaming providers, researchers and regulators working
to find and promote effective ways to reduce the risk of problem gambling.

Their aim of "Finding effective ways to reduce the risk of problem gambling" is achieveable if all stakeholders are genuine in their efforts and ambitions.

The same unfortunatately cannot be said of our operators and stakeholders here in Victoria. Most stakeholders do not want to achieve real change from a gambling culture which is proven to do damage to our community. Tattersall's and Tabcorp have shown no real demonstrable effort that they are willing to make effective changes to their practices. Venue operator chains are looking for the next opportunity to establish new gaming venues or expand existing ones especially in areas where increased revenues can be made regardless of social costs. Peak bodies such as Clubs Victoria make statements which ignore the blatantly obvious - that poker machines cause harm.

When these groups consider making any change they approach one stakeholder secretly with their proposals, in an effort to undermine any unity that may exist between organisations pushing for reform to the Victorian gaming industry.

For collaborative change to occur, I believe we need the following:

1. All groups advocating change to work together towards a common goal.
2. An executive government willing to accept the views and desires of the community, and genuinely willing to make changes to reduce community harm, even at the risk of reduced revenues.
3. The bureaucracy of government departments must support rather than control the discussion and formulation of community-driven policies on gambling.
4. Operators and industry groups need to be willing to acknowledge that the status quo is not acceptable, and genuinely accept that change needs to happen. They should also proactive and forthcoming with any assistance and information that they can provide to ensure that policies and practices can be developed that will ensure that gambling is less harmful to the community.

Something needs to be done now. Blind Freddy knows that gambling in its current form in Victoria is causing significant problems. Having all the stakeholders working together is a lofty ambition, but if all parties are genuine and share the same goal, it is achievable.

What do you think?

GG

Problem Gamblers sue operator - Ban the Machines

Problem gamblers in Nova Scotia, Canada have decided to take their efforts to have poker machines in that province banned and compensation paid to the courts through a class action launched yesterday.

Bernie Walsh, a recovering problem gambler and "anti-gambling crusader" claims in the lawsuit (according to the Toronto Star) that the provinicial government did not study potential impacts of gaming machines, or ignored evidence of harmful effects.

They also claim that the operator Atlantic Lottery Corporation failed to provide adequate assistance or facilities to problem gamblers.

The lawyer representing the claim made some interesting statements which are true for many jurisdictions where gaming machines have been legalised:

"Every government has a duty to protect its citizens"
"We don't think the government of Nova Scotia did proper work, proper research."

It is only a matter of time before we see these types of law suits in Australia. This will especially be true if governments with the wisdom of hindsight and the range of research now available on the impacts of gaming machines fail to do anything about this growing problem.

We have a role to ensure that governments are aware and educated of the issues relating to gaming machines. If we don't continue to argue for change, and are not persistent and determined in doing so, then we are also failing in our duty.

What do you think?

GG

P.S.: Commenting is now easier. Just click on the comments link and a window will pop up for you to leave your comment.

Gambling in Victoria proven to cause homelessness

Victoria is a a sad state when another country uses us as an example of what not to do. Unfortunately Victoria has earned the reputation of the worst example of gaming regulation and expansion.

The UK's The Guardian reports on recently published research into links between gambling and homelessness among over 50s conducted in four english cities, as well as Boston in the US and Melbourne, here in Australia.

The research had the following findings which indicate the problems we have in Melbourne:

It revealed patterns of homelessness in over 50s to be broadly similar, except in Australia where it identified a link between homelessness and gambling that appeared not to exist in the other study areas.

Of the 125 homeless people from Australia surveyed as part of the study, 38% mentioned gambling as a cause of their problems. In England and Massachusetts only 4% cited this as a reason.

Melbourne should be ashamed of these results. The rest of the world think we should be. A spokesman for the UK Department of Culture, Media and Sport had the following to say:

"We are removing restrictions on some kinds of casino, but it won't lead to the problems they've had in Australia, which has the worst problem gambling rates in the world," he said.

"They made the mistake in Australia of liberalising gambling laws without effective balances, so now these machines are everywhere. We have learned from Australia by restricting certain types of machines and where they can go. You cannot draw a valid comparison between the two countries."

However it is not good enough just to acknowledge that we have a problem here in Victoria, we need to do something about it. As a community we need to ensure that governments understand that we will not tolerate the continuation of this harmful situation.

GG.

BetOnSports - Americans should have the right to gamble on line - Consumers will benefit?

BetOnSports operators of Bet on Sports.Com a internet sports betting and wagering website has been on the internet newswires a lot recently due to the launch of their Costa Rica-based VIP Club, and their alternative wagering options such as celebrity marriages, elections and the outcomes of court cases . However most mainstream attention has been attracted by their 'National Public Policy Initiative' called Proposition 1: To Regulate or Prohibit Online Gambling.

Their argument is an interesting one - regulate online gambling to ensure that their are responsible gambling measures in place or be ineffectual in trying to prevent gamblers from betting online.

It is possible for highly tailored responsible gambling and harm minimisation measures to be put in place for online gambling. It is also true that most current operators do not provide these measures unless forced to do so.

It is beneficial to have the debate, however the debate needs to be balanced and reasoned and consider all options. It is not clear whether this is possible, especially when BetOnSports are also advertising a "Right to Wager" campaign on television and in the press in the US.

As one of the world's largest online gambling providers, which receives most of its income from the US, BetOnSports has much to gain from becoming legal in the US. However it should also be noted that sportsbetting is illegal in every US state except Nevada so there is no political foundation for introducing it online.

Will consumers benefit? Possibly as in terms of responsible gambling, more measures can be put in place to attempt to prevent harm. However when you are comparing the harm of having access compared to no access - no access potentially has less harm - but only if properly enforced.

The main issue in the US is if they want to ban internet gambling, they should bite the bullet and like in Australia pass an act to ban it. Until they do everyone has problems - operators, governments and gamblers.

What's your view - should internet gambling be legalised in its current form, legalised but heavily regulated or banned completely?

GG

Is advertising internet gambling on search engines dangerous - Google Sued

Yahoo, Google and several other search engines have been sued in California for carrying gambling ads which gamblers have followed, and in due course lost money.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of all Californians as online gambling within California is illegal. It is however unclear whether advertising of illegal gambling is illegal.

Search Engine Watch.Com also mentions that a casino advertising site, Casino City has launched another lawsuit claiming that there is a first amendment right to advertise gambling online.

It is fairly clear that online advertising of gambling does contribute to increased gambling and new online gamblers - to put it simply if it didn't work, the online casinos wouldn't spend the money. Legalities aside, if a gambler wants to gamble online they can go directly to the site - the rest of us don't need gambling pushed down our throats.

Online gambling advertising also seems to be targeted at the young (through excessive gambling advertising on peer-to-peer networks such as Kazaa) or those with an interest in sports. This is not even considering the mass of advertising on the dark side of the net where advertising for gambling and pornography dominate sites with illegal content such as pirate software.

We don't need the internet's most used sites - Search Engines like Yahoo and Google - to be contributing to this growing problem. They have made a promise to get rid of gambling sites from their indexes, they should be held to their word.

GG

Putting the boot in - Sprite makes a joke at the expense of pensioner gamblers

It is a well known fact that many people experiencing difficulties from gambling are pensioners. Some of the less fortunate citizens of our community dependent on government payments, often fall victim to the attraction that poker machines can provide. Unfortunately financial problems often occur for these people as they are on fixed incomes with little disposable income.

So it is unneccessary that Coca-Cola Amatil makers of a new product Recharge by Sprite, have used the following to promote their product. This photo was taken by a Gambler's Help Western staff member at a bus stop in St Albans, in the western suburbs of Melbourne.



This does not help the cause of problem gamblers in any way. We do not need large companies exploiting the fact the gambling is a significant problem in our community.

I for one will not be purchasing this product and suggest that others do the same.

GG

Why are older gamblers healthier - They don't get the flu.

The Day newspaper in Connecticut USA, home of the Mohegan Sun casino may have provided the reason why some older gamblers are healthier - they get free or discounted immunisations. Here is a quote reprinted in CasinoWire.

Casinos Promote Flu Shots

Friday, October 31 2003

Several health organizations in the U.S. have made use of casinos, with their highly elderly populations, to conduct flu and pneumonia immunization programs. Seniors, who are at an increased health risk from the influenza virus and its complications, account for as much as a third of all casino visits. Susan Peak, the wellness coordinator at the Visiting Nurse's Association of Central Connecticut, says the casino is "an ideal place" to administer flu shots, and both health care workers and casino spokesmen say promoting flu shots for patrons and employees is good for business. The casino – with thousands of people in an enclosed space handling chips, money and slot-machine levers – is an ideal environment for viruses to easily spread from person to person. "It costs $18 for a flu shot, and over $1,000 for a day in the hospital,” says Peak. Her association administered inoculations at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut Wednesday afternoon. Some casino patrons paid $18 for the shot, while others used Medicare or private insurance to cover the vaccination. Others used 18 casino credits earned from The Player's Club.

Is this good or bad? GG is not sure but you would think that there would be other alternatives for older adults that also provide these benefits and is still attractive. Also it may cost $1000 a day for to care for the ill in hospital but what are the real costs to gambling for the community.

Older adults should receive the care and health support such as vaccinations that they need, but they shouldn't be encourage to gamble in order to get it.

What do you think?

GG

Bratz update - Site Removed

Just a quick update that MGA Entertainment have kept their word and the site has now been removed.

GG

Pokies are bad, we were wrong - Past Victorian Premiers admit mistake

Finally 12 years after poker machines were introduced in Victoria, the past premiers that over saw the introduction and continued exapnsion of poker machines in Victoria have admitted that it was a mistake.

Joan Kirner, the Victorian Labor Premier who introduced poker machines to Victorian pubs and clubs in 1992 now admits that it was a mistake, and the most recent past premier, the Liberals' Jeff Kennett agrees.

In fact they both agree, along with another previous Victorian premier, Labor's John Cain that poker machines should have been restricted to the Casino where there are 2500 machines compared to the 27,500 machines located in pubs and clubs across Victoria.

Victoria now has a reputation of being where to go if you want to see how not to establish a legal gaming machine industry.

Of course, these premiers are being wise in hindsight, but surely this is a sobering lesson for current Victorian Premier, Labor's Steve Bracks and Gaming Minister, John Pandazopoulos who have an opportunity to significantly change the gambling landscape though the current relicensing process.

Why should the state be forced to endure the consequences of another 20 years of suffering at the hands of a poker machine industry reluctant to put in place measure that would limit the harm from machines.

The current Government need to think practically about measures to reduce harms, or they may have this mistake hanging over them as Kirner and Kennett do.

I am not saying that abolition is neccessary, however significant changes need to be made to the stucture of the industry and the practice and delivery of gaming and even the machines themselves in order to make poker machine gambling at the minimum an acceptable form of entertainment even though some risk will remain.

What do you think?

GG

Congratulations MGA Entertainment - Bratz to give up pokies

Yesterday's post talked about the japanese Bratzpack site with its online slot machine game. Overnight (Australian Time) many in the gambling service provider and research community worldwide expressed their concern to the company with the only response being that it was not an MGA Entertainment site but a site based in Japan.

This morning, the Gambling Guru did an investigation into Avex Networks, the holders of the domain, Bratzpack.JP. My investigations showed that Avex was a genuine licensee of MGA and produced CDs in Japan as the Bratz trademark. Avex is a major company, with major music distribution rights in Japan as well as producing animated series for the US market.

I decided to email Director of Public Relations, Mr Dave Malacrida directly with my concerns, which are shared by many worldwide. Within four hours, I received a positive response (To view the full response with my letter click here) from MGA Entertainment's Senior Counsel, Mr David Oakes. The following is from his response:

While Avex is a licensee of MGA, the website www.bratzpack.jp has not been authorized by MGA, nor has the content been approved. MGA does not approve of the use of a Slot Game on has sent a notice to Avex to remove this game immediately.

The Gambling Guru, and Gambler's Help Southern would like to congratulate MGA Entertainment on taking responsibility and action on this issue. Their response is welcomed.

A successful outcome is expected, but GG and others will watch out to ensure that the functionality is removed promptly.

GG

Bratz - The Girls With a Passion for Pokies?!

You may have heard of the Bratz dolls with oversized heads targeted at preteen girls. Well they seem to be teaching our young women about more than just fashion but also gambling.

Ray MacNeil, from Nova Scotia, Canada brought the Japanese Bratz Official site to the attention of the gambling research and service provider community worldwide, when he discovered his daughter playing the following game on the site.




The game is rigged to guarantee large wins but in all other ways seems to encourage gambling by not only normalising playing poker machines, but also leading to the development of false beliefs such as control of poker machines (which are completely random) and the occurence of the early large win which we know is a contributor to problem gambling especially in young people.

Also the fact that the slot machine is accessed via a laptop seems to indicate that this potentially promotes internet gambling.

Parents should therefore be warned not to allow their daughters to access the site http://www.bratzpack.jp Also if you want to register your protest to the site with the manufacturers of Bratz dolls, you can do so by accessing their contact details at http://www.mgae.com/contact.asp

Let me know what you think about this issue by clicking on the comments link.

GG

Free Oxygen Tank Refills and 50% Discount on Prescription Drugs - Casinos sucking in the elderly

I cam across an interesting article on the internet today from the Omaha World-Herald in the USA. Titled "Addicted to gambling late in life", writer Robynn Tysver presents some interesting aspects of how casinos in that area attract older gamblers as well as some of the devastating effects.
The following paragraphs took me by surprise, but they shouldnt have.

For several years, older Americans have been the fastest-growing segment of gamblers in the nation. Casinos routinely cater to the elderly, providing transportation, big band tunes and, at a Nevada casino, free oxygen tank refills.

Several years ago, under a different owner, Bluffs Run Casino offered a 50 percent prescription drug discount to senior citizens who acquired a club card for frequent players.

If you have ever been to Las Vegas on a week day before noon, you will see many older people dragging their oxygen bottles through the smoke filled gaming rooms. It is sad to see and is one of the reasons I no longer work in the industry.

Some of the reasons why casinos and gaming are so attractive to older people are issues with society not gambling. Why are there not many places that offer the same excitement and service to our older citizens. At the casino, the elderly are treated as privileged customers - they are valued just as you or I would be. Unfortunately this is not the case for many other forms of entertainment or activity.

This service level however contributes to to beliefs developed by older people, who will rationalise their enjoyment:

At Crown Pointe Retirement Center, a vanload of older citizens goes to the casinos about once a month. It is a popular activity that the center's residents request, said Bonna Baber, activity director.

"It's fun," said Iola Hickman, 87, who never spends more than $50. "You sit there and wonder, 'Is it going to pay off or be a zero for me?'

"It's harmless entertainment, she said - a way to spend some time in the afternoon. And, Hickman said, the people at the casino are so friendly.

"When they see me coming with my walker, the man comes over and opens a gate and smiles at me," she said.

We need alternatives for older people, and while the casinos offer this enjoyment to our seniors, they cannot be blamed fully unless there are other options available.

Do you know of any solutions?

GG

Gambling: Therapeutic Health Benefits for the Elderly

Anyone involved with trying to prevent or discourage the elderly of our society from gambling should stop what they are doing. You are wrong - gambling is good for the aged.

A Yale study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry has concluded that "there is a positive correlation of good health in moderate gamblers 65 and over.

The reasons for this finding are not clear, the authors suggest that it could be "increased activity, socialisation and cognitive stimulation that are related to engaging in gambling." I would have thought that some forms of gambling fly in the face of this - poker machines for example are often used as an escape - players can zone out from the world, they don't need to speak to anyone and they don't need to move from their seat.

There also seems to be a big difference between the results for those 18-65 and those over 65. The report concluded that for the other age groups there were high rates of alcohol use and abuse, depression, bankruptcy, and incarceration - a result that would be expected.

Author Rani Desai, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine did note however that the gambling of older adults needs to be monitored due to the highly addictive nature of the gambling forms they favour such as slots and the fact that they have fixed incomes and could suffer financial problems.

So if you gamble in old age you could be healthier and live longer, but possibly you won't actually be able to afford to live. How's that for a great quality of life - no wonder that so many people in the US retire to Las Vegas and retirement villages here often promote pokie venues being nearby.

Do you think this is a good thing? Let me know by clicking on the comments link.

GG

Australia's Casino & Gaming Industry - Are things really that bad?

Constantly we hear in the media various proponents of the Australian gaming and casino industry complaining that things in Australia are terrible and regulation is restricting their ability to make money.

Some of the latest complaints are: smoking bans, pokies taxes, too many jursidictions to have machines approved in, too much focus on problem gambling, to name just a few.

But are things really that bad? Take the following as an example:

• URS Casino Industry Economic Report says in 2002/03 the casino industry generated $8.6 billion including contributing $5.9 billion to Australia's GDP. This means that casinos contribute the same as holding the 2000 olympics, each year.
• Tabcorp Holdings, operators of TAB in Victoria and now NSW, Tabaret Poker Machine Venues in Victoria, Club Keno in Victoria and NSW, and the Star City and Jupiters casinos in NSW and Queensland respectively announced and increase in profit of 23% to $311 million on revenues of $2.5 billion.
• Aristocrat returned a net profit of $63.3 million from a loss of $32.9 million the previous year.
• Newcomer Ainsworth Game Technology recorded its first ever profit of $2.1 million on $64.1 million revenue.

All these seem to say that everything is going well for the industry, however the question we need to ask is at what cost. Many people, including some in the industry have said that operators need to refocus and restructure their operations to enable issues such as responsible gambling to be effectively dealt with. Unfortunately these issues are not core business and are handled by PR and community relations people in an effort to pacify opponents.

Myself being previously employed at senior levels within industry can say that responsible gambling did not come into my day-to-day considerations unless it was brought up by regulators, and this was extremely rare (and was not in Australia.)

Serious profits can mean serious consequences, and until changes in operations occur to make gaming a safe experience for its patrons, industry can only expect the wave of concern to grow louder, and rightly so.

GG

Banning Smoking - Harm Minimisation Measure?

Smoking in pubs and clubs is seen as a significant health issue by many people. However it has been seen that banning smoking many also be an harm minimisation measure as most indicators show a reduction in gambling revenue when smoking is banned. Tattersall's recently blamed a third successive year of reduced poker machine revenues on the smoking bans. This flies in the face of most research that shows that smoking bans usually don't reduce patronage but increase it, so why is it so?

Maybe it is because, as published by Leader Newspapers in Victoria, many venues aren't actually properly enforcing the smoking bans or trying to find ways around it. A survey of 159 venues revealed many making little attempt to abide by laws.

Some methods used to segregate smoking and non-smoking areas: a metal waist high pole, pot plants, a designated corner of the room or use of fans. These are of course against the spirit and possibly the letter of the law. The worst example I have seen is a gaming venue located within a shopping centre. Smoking is banned in shopping centres and gaming floors within Victoria, however the venue laid some carpet in the shopping centre at the front of the venue, completely open to the rest of the shopping centre and designated this as a smoking area.

Non-smokers make up more than 80% of the community. Surely if venues and operators properly applied the law properly, logic suggests they would encourage more patrons to gamble. Unless of course they would rather have a patronage that is already displaying an addictive behaviour (to tobbacco) on the presumption that they may become addicted to poker machines and become 'good' customers.

Proper enforcement would be a harm minimisation method for smokers if they need to take a break to smoke and potentially could think about their gambling. For non-smokers proper enforcement would mean a more pleasant experience in the venue. So as a harm minimisation measure, in theory probably not but currently it is due to the way it is implemented.

GG

"Winning for Dummies" Self-Help for Gamblers? or Casinos?!

Coming to a Las Vegas Casino near you: (From the promotional brochure)

Using the same lighthearted approach as the immensely successful "For Dummies" books, Winning For Dummies takes players on a laughfilled educational romp through dozens of zany self-help topics covering everything from antiques, golf and scuba diving to Feng Shui, plumbing and Yoga.
With its instant brand recognition, advanced interactive technology and hugely entertaining game play, Winning For Dummies is a "no brainer" for casino operators who want to increase their slot operations’ overall "IQ" (Income-generating Quotient).
Class dismissed!

This game came to my attention from the blog of Dave Schwartz, Coordinator if the Gaming Studies Research Centre at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Dave's blog is highly entertaining reading if you are interested in gambling especially in the wacky world of Las Vegas.

Possibly this game is targeted at driving book sales, as if you don't have any money to gamble may be you will take up yoga or maybe you will take up plumbling since you don't have any money to call one.

Here is an image of the machine and a blurb from the brochure.

and here is a picture of the machines installed in a Las Vegas Casino. (From Dave Schwartz's Blog) Look closely and you may be able to work out which one.

If this doesn't tell players that winning is easy, I don't know what would. Unfortunately this is blatantly false, no matter what the game is they are designed so that players lose more than they win.

Would you want these types of machines here?

GG

Thunderbirds are go(ing to take all your money)

When I attended the Aust. Gaming Expo in Sydney last week I noticed a trend that included games that appear to be targeted to children. StarGames is a manufacturer that has obtained licences to many television shows and is beginning to turn them into poker machines.

The first of these to appear in Victoria is Thunderbirds which has been approved to be installed in Tattersall's venues. This game is based upon and uses as symbols images from the tv show that is still shown in the early hours of Saturday morning. Others in the StarGames stable that have been approved in other states include games based on the cartoon versions of The Incredible Hulk, Spiderman, and X-Men in Queensland and comic books Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Ghost Rider, and Daredevil in NSW.

Talking around the office here, they have an argument that these games are targeted at young adults of legal age however they could not deny that this would also be attractive to minors and this could make for more underage gambling especially as enforcement at venues, especially during daylight hours, is not foolproof.

Let me know what you think?

GG

Gambling Watch Global - A global view of a global problem

As we all are beginning to know, gambling is a worldwide problem. Gambler's Help Southern understand this an many of our staff have been in touch and involved with many groups and professionals overseas trying to come up with innovative solutions and share in the knowledge that others have developed.

A great way to take a view of the what is happening in the gambling world is Gambling Watch Global. To quote the site:

Welcome to Gambling Watch Global Community Blog, a source for latest news, developments and reputable documentation and research on gambling. You'll find many helpful resources and links for anti-gambling advocates.

Gambling Watch Global is updated often - vital in this age of constant information. You can even comment on their posts and join in the worldwide wave to do something about gambling problems affecting society.

GG

2004 Australasian Gaming Expo

Yesterday Gambling Guru attended the Australasian Gaming Expo held at the Sydney Convention Centre at Darling Harbour.

The expo is the main gaming industry event in Australian each year and is where Australia's gaming machine and equipment manufacturers display their new products for the coming year.

The major trend this year seems to be towards Twin screen poker machines, linked jackpot machines, multi-game machines and themed games.

Major exhibitors included Ainsworth, Aristocrat, IGT, Konami, StarGames, Pacific and Global Gaming Industries, plus many others.

An interesting session I attended was presented by Justine Channing, Manager Gaming Analysis for IGT Professional Services. Channing discussed the latest trends in gaming, in particular how they affected the Australian Market. Armed with research from the NSW and Queensland Markets she suggested that the best return to player was about 90% any higher and venues don't make money - any lower and the players won't play. She also suggested that the most popular and consistent games in the market were those with a feature where three or more scattered symbols triggers free spins. This type of game has been successful for many years with Aristocrat's "Queen of the Nile" starting the trend in about 1998. Channing suggests this type of game will be a consistent performer for at least the next three to four years. Next best is the bonusing type of game such as Aristocrat's Mr Cashman where players are offered a choice of bonus, these are also seen as peforming well in the near to medium term.

Based on this data, IGT and other manufacturers design games with the main variations being in artwork and graphics. Machine styles may also change but the type of game that appears on them will remain the same.

Also on show was a new trend towards dual screen machines such as IGT's BlueChip series. These machines use LCD monitors to not only display the game but also the artwork. The artwork display can change to display jackpots or special features. A similar concept is Ainsworth's Ambassador series which uses one large LCD screen to display the game and artwork together.

Many manufacturers displayed new linked jackpots including Ainsworth's Ozzy's Challenge, and Aristocrat's Pick-A-Box.

Aristocrat displayed its new Player's Choice machines which allows players to choose the denomination and game that they want to play from a selection of four popular Aristrocrat games.

Themed games are finally taking off in Australia after being big in the US for a long time. IGT have Sale of the Century and Aristocrat have Pick-A-Box (based on the late-1950's Australian Game Show) but StarGames and their alliance with WMS Gaming are the trendsetters in this area. StarGames games include Classic Thunderbirds (based on the children's tv show), and poker machines based on current and past game shows including The Price is Right, Press Your Luck, Blankety Blanks, and Family Feud and an american game show called Card Sharks.

What does this mean for responsible gambling? Its critical that we understand why manufacturers produce the games that they do. We also need to understand why some games are successful and some aren't. This is because they give us an indication of what is attracting players to poker machines and what is keeping them at the machine. In order to help people control their gambling we need to look at what is potentially helping them to lose control.

During the expo I also collected a lot of material produced by manufacturers and other stakeholders in the gaming industry. I will discuss these in later posts.

GG