Here’s a little more beauracratic idiocy WHICH CAN BE CHANGED.

Problem gambling destroys lives.

In 1999, the Australian Productivity Commission reported that Australia had nearly 180,000 poker machines. This figure represented 21% of all the poker machines in the world. On a per capita basis, Australia had roughly five times as many gaming machines as the United States. Today in Australia, we have 25% of the world’s poker machines. The “Lucky Country” has approximately one poker machine per every 110 people.

In the state of Victoria, Australia (where I live) the social cost of too many slot machines has become too great. We have the largest casino in Australia – Crown Casino – which is a boom for our tourism industry. However, we also have too many pokies venues which do not attract tourists – they attract people with financial problems from our poorest communities who are lured by the remote prospect that they will win money to relieve their financial stress. In reality they don’t win. In reality problem gambling destroys families. It bankrupts individuals and business alike. It destroys the fabric of a healthy and prosperous community. Problem gambling destroys lives.

A 2010 Australian hospital study found that 17% of suicidal patients admitted to the Alfred Hospital‘s emergency department were problem gamblers.

The gambling problem in Victoria is a direct reason that income-generating crime (such as theft, fraud, break and enter, forgery, false pretences, larceny and robbery) have increased.

A report commissioned by the Victorian Government (Department of Justice) titled “The Relationship Between Crime and Gambling In Victoria” concludes: All in all, this report has provided strong and robust evidence of a positive and significant link between gaming expenditure and the level of crime (in particular income-generating crime) in Victoria across the three years (1996, 2001 & 2006) under review in this investigation.

Gambling affects not just the gambler, but at least five people directly who suffer from the flow-through effects of gambling addiction. Problem gambling frequently results in strained relationships, divorce, homelessness and the loss of respect amongst families and peers.

Gambling also accounts for approximately 4.12% of all personal (non-business) bankruptcies. In actuality, this figure is likely to be much higher as it is interesting to note that bankrupting on gambling related debts in Australia is an offence under the Bankruptcy Act 1966.

Our government has created this problem by allowing our state to become saturated by pokies venues because they can’t resist the revenue generated by gambling. Last year, $2.6 billion in gambling turnover generated about $1 billion in gaming taxes for the Victorian state government.

Our largest retailer and supermarket – Woolworths – owns more than a third of Victoria’s poker machines – although you won’t find this fact on their website. They prefer their mask to come across as community-caring – not a contributor to its collapse.

Do we blame the government or do we blame the individual with the gambling problem? Surely each person is responsible for their own actions?

Gambling is just another addiction perpetuated by the sad and sorry state of this world. Until we change our societal structure to promote wisdom and genuine happiness, those who make the law are responsible for the negative consequences that their laws propagate.

We can change this law. One million people can say NO, the people of Victoria do not want this number of poker machines in our state because it is damaging our community. KINDLY REMOVE THEM.

If the government does not act, we raise awareness by leasing massive billboards TELLING the goverment again to listen to the people. We unite and direct our coordinated energy by having one million signatures present on a petition. If they still won’t listen, there will be one million people protesting in the city streets until we ARE listened to. The governments are there to serve the people and make wise choices for our future. They are not in power to screw us over yet again.

And a word from the wise….

…poker machine playing is a mindless, repetitive and insidious form of gambling which has many undesirable features. It requires no thought, no skill or social contact. The odds are never about winning. Watching people playing the machines over long periods of time, the impressionistic evidence at least is that they are addictive to many people. Historically poker machines have been banned from Western Australia and we consider that, in the public interest, they should stay banned.

—Report of the Royal Commission into Gambling 1974, p. 72

Show us your balls Western Australia!! If they can do it, why can’t we? Oh, that’s right, we can…

We’re looking for one million residents of the world who want change. If you haven’t already, read our mission here.