A MAN accused of setting fire to poker machines at a Beenleigh pub has been refused bail.

Appearing at Southport Magistrates Court in a white hospital gown, Beenleigh 21-year-old Blake Jones had his bid for bail rejected after police alleged he had threatened to ‘kill himself and others’ in the weeks prior to the suspected arson attack.

The court was told Mr Jones had only one prior criminal conviction, but Magistrate Gary Finger said that was not his primary concern.

“He should be in custody for his own protection, given your history of threats,” he said.

He is accused of setting fire to a poker machine at a Beenleigh tavern on Wednesday night.

All 40 of the pub’s gaming machines were destroyed.

He was ordered to appear in Beenleigh Court on January 12.

EARLIER: The man who doused pokie machines in petrol and set them on fire is most “extreme” example of rage against the machines so far, a gambling expert has said.

Monash University gambling researcher Charles Livingstone said it was not uncommon for punters to attack pokie machines in Australia and overseas, but the case in Beenleigh overnight is rare and unheralded.

“This is the most extreme example I’ve heard of pretty much anywhere, but in Australia and overseas it is not uncommon for people to attack machines once they realise they’ve taken all their money,” Dr Livingstone said.

“They feel like they’ve been conned and they’re under enormous stress and pressure.”

“Poker machines are highly addictive products, they can simulate repeated use by people when they sort of recover from the phase, the ‘zone’ as they call it, when they get sucked into using the machines repeatedly and they get very enraged at what’s happened and often they will take out their rage by trying to destroy the machines,” he said.

media_camera “The gaming industry should have a hard look at how these machines work and change them to be less addictive and harmful,” says Monash University gambling researcher Charles Livingstone.

Dr Livingstone said pokie machines don’t have to be banned completely, but the gaming industry should have a hard look at how these machines work and change them to be less addictive and harmful.

Pokie machines should be entertainment products and not be a source of high levels of anxiety and stress he said.

“While we have these have high powered machines taking lots of people’s money, then these sort of incidents will probably continue,” he said.

“This is the tip of the iceberg in terms of the frustration, distress and anxiety that is caused by pokie machines.”

The Royal Hotel has opened for the day as the gaming room remains shut, but will most likely reopen by midday, a spokesman for the ALH group has said.

“We expect to open some time around midday today,” the spokesman said.

“As far as we are concerned only three of the machines have been damaged.”

A police statement initially stated three machines had been destroyed while 37 others were damaged beyond repair.

The spokesman would not speculate how much financial damage the pub had sustained in the incident.

“It’s a matter for police now, none of our staff or patrons were hurt or injured.”

EARLIER: The gaming room of a hotel south of Brisbane has been destroyed after an irate punter doused it in petrol and allegedly set it on fire.

All 40 poker machines at the Royal Hotel on George St, Beenleigh have been damaged beyond repair.

Police said a 25-year-old Beenleigh man who had been at the hotel earlier in the day allegedly returned at 8.40pm with petrol, before dousing every pokie machine in the room and setting it alight.

It is understood all patrons were evacuated and no one was injured.

Three poker machines were destroyed in the fire and 37 others are damaged beyond repair from chemical erosion.

The Royal Hotel has refused to comment.

Cleaners have been seen coming in and out of the establishment since early this morning.

The 25-year-old man has been charged with endangering particular property by fire.

He will appear in the Southport Magistrates Court today.