Australia has almost 200,000 pokie machines - one machine for every 120 people - which generate just under $12 billion a year. We have less than half-a-per cent of the world's population but 20 per cent of its pokies - and 80 per cent of those located outside casinos. Australians lose around $24 billion a year from gambling each year. Per head of population we lose more than any country in the world, double the average of countries like the US, New Zealand and Ireland.
In 2010, the Productivity Commission estimated problem gamblers accounted for around 40 per cent of poker machine losses in Australia. That means there's a strong economic incentive to keep addicted gamblers coming into venues.
The majority of gambling losses comes from poker machines, but increasingly thousands of young people are losing money on sports betting — an industry that is spending up big on marketing and advertising.
Australia does not have a highly regulated sports betting industry compared to countries like the UK, France or Sweden. There is no national gambling regulator, but the Northern Territory Racing Commission has become the main regulator for sports betting almost by default after 20 betting agencies set up shop in Darwin for tax purposes. Over her 10 years working at Financial Counselling Australia, Lauren Levin says this has not been good for problem gamblers. "The online betting market operates without a moral compass, and without fear of any of the regulators. It's like the wild west," she says.
The result is a nation with the world’s worst average gambling losses: About $1,000 per adult each year. Opponents of gambling say pokies fuel suicides, domestic violence, insolvencies and financial crimes. “If you look at comparable countries around the world,” said Charles Livingstone, an associate professor of public health at Monash University, “we are far and away the worst in terms of both expenditure and its impact on the community.”
According to a 2017 government report looking at the risks of pokies, or electronic gaming machines (EGMs), one of the key findings was that the machines have computers which run "sophisticated techniques, designed to maximise spending and time on device per user". The report said pokies very successfully employ complex "game maths" and "psychological principals" to maximise bet sizes and usage. "These characteristics have the effect of increasing the addictive potential of EGMs" it warned.
How pokies work
Key messages
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Pokies (or EGMs) are computers utilising sophisticated techniques, designed to maximise spending and “time on device” per user.
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The pokies are designed to very successfully employ psychological principals to maximise users’ bet sizes and machine usage. These characteristics have the effect of increasing the addictive potential of pokies.
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Pokie-punters, and policy makers as well, are mostly not well informed about the way the machines work, or the complex “game maths” behind them.
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Internationally, Australian pokies are known for their ability to maximise users’ spending and “time on device”, yet Australia has been one of the slowest to develop adequate policy responses to reduce harms.
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Why don't our governments just outlaw them?
There is little political will for change in a country where the gambling industry donates millions of dollars to the major political parties and pays billions in taxes to states and territories. The ABC reported last year that the gambling industry had donated at least $60 million to the three major political parties over the past two decades. "We know precious little money is returned to the community but I think we are yet to fully learn how much money is paid to political parties and politicians both on and off the books," Federal Independent MP Andrew Wilkie said.
In New South Wales, home to half the country’s 200,000 pokies, the gaming commissioner was recently removed after pushing reforms that would have protected gamblers at the expense of the industry.
"These are a dangerous machine and they should not be in the community without proper safeguards." Mr Wilkie said research has shown that the machines are made to be deliberately addictive and "trick" people into thinking they have won money with false wins. "You put 10 dollars in and the bells will go off and the lights will flash and you win five dollars back, when you have actually lost five dollars."
Studies show that the closer someone lives to pokies, the greater the likelihood that the person will gamble on the machines and experience financial hardship. Two recent Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation -funded research reports, Proximity to gambling venues, gambling behaviours and related harms and Personal insolvencies and the availability of neighbourhood gaming venues, broadly found that those who live closer to a gambling venue lose more than people who live further away.
Recovering gambling addict Shonica Guy, who is pursuing litigation again Crown Casino and Aristocrat, said she would have never touched the machines if she had known they were "secretly rigged". "I thought it was all fun and entertainment but I was hypnotised and ripped off."
She's not the only one who has noticed that pokies tap into your subconscious mind...
A Tasmanian woman estimates she lost over $100,000 on the pokies and says she played the machines as a way of coping with bipolar. "I am not a gambler of any other sort. There's something in the lights and the music of the machines that works with the wiring of the brain," she says.
"It's almost like they put you into a trance. It's really hard to describe the impact it has on your mind. When things are really tough for me, that's the only thing that shuts my mind down and gets me away from my head. They can put a spell on you."
Government research has found that a person experiencing problem gambling can affect up to six other people around them. A NSW Crime Commission report into the widespread use of pokies indicated the problem goes far beyond individual gamblers and their wider families.
Poker machines in NSW pubs and clubs turned over $95 billion in 2020-21. While impossible to know exact figures, the commission has estimated that criminals launder billions each year through the machines, the proceeds of organised crime coming from drugs, sex work, human trafficking and other illicit activity.
Why isn't the "gambling self-exclusion" system working?
Gambling researchers from CQ University have identified flaws in the self-exclusion scheme. Their report, commissioned by the NSW Responsible Gambling Fund, found that "monitoring of self-exclusion has numerous deficiencies."
The researchers conducted focus groups with gaming room staff and found that the deficiencies in the system included:
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- Inadequate communication to staff of who is self-excluded
- Lack of systems for staff familiarisation with photos of self-excluders
- Failure to update the self-exclusion register
- Too many self-excluders for staff to recognise them
- Difficulty of monitoring for partial self-exclusions and people on a multi-venue self-exclusion order (MVSE)
- The near impossibility of recognising people from very poor quality photos that were not always accessible to floor staff.
The researchers discovered that pokies profits had an influence on how seriously the self-exclusion scheme was taken inside venues. A manager of a venue in a large hotel group suggested that self-exclusion was not well implemented because of the hotel group's focus on revenue: it's probably not policed in our venues as well as it should be, but then there's a very good reason behind that:
"That's where most of your money comes from when you think of the venue."
Why do people get addicted to gambling on the pokies?
People can become addicted to gambling on poker machines, also known as electronic gaming machines (EGMs), slot machines, slots or pokies, due to a combination of psychological, social, and biological factors. Here are some reasons why individuals may develop an addiction to poker machines:
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Immediate Rewards: Poker machines provide immediate and intermittent rewards in the form of winnings. The unpredictable nature of these rewards triggers the brain's reward system (dopamine), reinforcing the behaviour and making it more difficult for individuals to resist the urge to continue playing. Dopamine is a motivating chemical. The chemical that is produced when you are content or savour enjoyment is serotonin, but pokies do not stimulate the production of this chemical in your brain.
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Escape and Coping Mechanism: Gambling on poker machines can serve as a way for individuals to escape from stress, anxiety, or other life challenges. The immersive and absorbing nature of the games provides a temporary distraction from real-life problems.
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Psychological Factors: Certain psychological factors, such as cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs about luck, winning, and control, can contribute to the development and maintenance of gambling addiction. For example, individuals may believe that a big win is just around the corner or that they have a special strategy for winning.
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Socialisation and Social Pressure: Gambling often occurs in social settings, such as clubs, casinos, or pubs with poker machines. Social interactions and peer pressure can influence an individual's decision to gamble. Additionally, the normalisation of gambling in social circles may contribute to the development of addictive behaviour.
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Accessibility and Availability: The widespread availability of poker machines, particularly in clubs, casinos, bars, and other public places, makes them easily accessible. The constant availability of these machines increases the likelihood of individuals engaging in repetitive gambling behaviour.
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Operant Conditioning: The design of poker machines is often based on principles of operant conditioning, where behaviours are strengthened through rewards. The flashing lights, sounds, and visual stimuli associated with wins create a sensory-rich environment that reinforces the desire to continue playing.
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Biological Factors: Some individuals may be more biologically predisposed to developing addictive behaviours. Genetic factors and variations in neurotransmitter systems in the brain can contribute to susceptibility to gambling addiction.
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Financial Hope: Individuals may be driven by the hope of winning a substantial amount of money to improve their financial situation. This hope can be particularly compelling for those facing economic challenges or financial stress.
It's important to recognise that the combination of these factors can vary from person to person. Hypnotherapy for gambling addiction involves a comprehensive approach that addresses psychological, social, and biological aspects.
COVID-19 Lockdowns provided a brief respite for problem gamblers
During COVID, many gamblers were able to break the habit of playing the pokies for the first time in years, but some began gambling online instead.
Online gambling surged during COVID-19 lockdowns. A report by the Australian Gambling Research Centre found that one in 20 people picked up online gambling in the first lockdown. Young men aged between 18 and 34 were the most likely to have picked up the habit.
The number of people who reported gambling online jumped from 8 per cent in 2020 to 11 per cent in 2021, said ACMA.
Online casino-style gambling games including games based on poker machines, blackjack, roulette and scratchies are banned in Australia.
Many online casinos still target Australian audiences despite the risk of a $1.1 million fine aimed at unlicensed online gambling services. Estimates of the revenue of online gambling operators in the Asia Pacific eclipse $60 billion and Australians spend at least $400 million gambling online per year.
ACMA says 100 offshore operators illegally offering online gambling in Australia have pulled out of the market since 2017. But elusive operators and the sites’ tendency to vanish and then reappear under different branding present a challenge for the regulator to crack down on the illegal sites.
References:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/04/26/australia-gambling-addiction/
https://www.gamblingresearch.org.au/sites/default/files/2021-10/Final%20IGS%20report%202021.pdf
https://responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au/about-us/news-and-media/counting-the-cost-of-pokies/
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/pokie-leaks-to-expose-industry-secrets/sy99f5tst
https://aifs.gov.au/resources/policy-and-practice-papers/how-electronic-gambling-machines-work
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-04/abc-gambling-crowdsourced-investigation/11678066
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-05/bet365-whistleblower-says-winners-given-delays/11768486
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-11/tasmania-pokies-licences-monopoly-is-about-to-end/100444822
How can hypnotherapy help me overcome my gambling addiction?
Hypnotherapy helps you overcome gambling addiction by addressing the underlying psychological and behavioural patterns associated with the addiction. Here are ways in which hypnotherapy may be beneficial:
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Behavioural Patterns: Hypnotherapy can target and modify the behavioural patterns and habits associated with gambling. It helps you recognise and change the automatic responses that lead to gambling urges.
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Subconscious Exploration: Hypnotherapy involves accessing the subconscious mind, where many habits and beliefs are rooted. I can guide you to explore and understand the underlying issues or triggers contributing to your gambling addiction.
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Stress and Anxiety Management: Gambling addiction is often linked to stress and anxiety. Hypnotherapy can help you relax and manage stress more effectively, providing alternative coping mechanisms that don't involve gambling.
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Motivation and Goal Setting: Hypnotherapy assists in reinforcing motivation to overcome addiction and setting achievable goals. It enhances your commitment to change and creates a positive mindset.
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Building Self-Esteem: Gambling addiction can sometimes be associated with low self-esteem or other emotional issues. Hypnotherapy can work on building self-confidence and addressing any deep-rooted insecurities.
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Breaking Triggers: Hypnotherapy can help identify and break the cycle of triggers that lead to gambling urges. By creating new associations in the subconscious mind, you are less likely to succumb to those triggers.
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Visualisations and Imagery: Using guided visualisations and positive imagery, I can help you envision a life without gambling, reinforcing the benefits of overcoming addiction.
It's essential to note that while hypnotherapy is a valuable tool, it is often most effective when integrated into a comprehensive treatment plan. Combining Switch-Up Hypnotherapy with other therapeutic approaches, support groups, and counselling could enhance the overall effectiveness of treatment for gambling addiction. Or you might find you just need a Switch-Up.
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