Aussie addict brings landmark case over poker machines

SYDNEY:

A landmark trial began against Australian casino giant Crown and poker machine maker Aristocrat, alleging players are misled or deceived about their chances of winning.

The Federal Court case was brought by Maurice Blackburn lawyers on behalf of gambling addict Shonica Guy, who suffered signifi- cant losses playing the machines.

“I started playing the ‘pokies’ when I was 17. Poker machines took over my life for the next 14 years,” she said.

“This case is not about seeking compensation for what I lost -- I just want to make sure what happened to me doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

Gambling addiction is a major social problem in Australia with advocates for reform estimating that people lose around A$12bil (RM40.6bil) a year, with losses spiralling since the first machines were built in 1953.

A public inquiry in 2010 showed 115,000 “problem gamblers”, whose habit can lead to serious health, family and financial issues. Another 280,000 were categorised as at “moderate risk”.

The legal case centres on the design of the “Dolphin Treasure” machines at Crown’s flagship Melbourne casino, which offer cash prizes to players who line up matching symbols across a series of spinning reels.