The biggest gamblers losing hundreds of thousands to poker machines | 60 Minutes Australia
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- Опубліковано 2 сер 2023
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How could anyone possibly lose a million dollars on the pokies? Honestly, you can't understand it, but that's what happened to Lana O'Shannassy. Outwardly, her life seemed so perfect. A good job, nice house, young family. But Lana had another, secret, life - one where she spent hours every day helplessly shovelling money into the poker machines.
And she's not alone. A hundred thousand here, three hundred thousand there, we found case after case of ordinary people who have lost everything because of their addiction to the pokies. And when you study the odds and the psychology of gambling, you see why you just can't win.
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The thing with gambling is no matter how much you win it is never enough, and no matter how much you lose it's always too much.
I took my daughter to the casino when she turned 18. I gave her the same amount as I gave myself and left the rest at home. I am not a gambler at all, but decided I must give her exposure to this while I am there to guide her. After about 15 minutes she came to me asnd said "Mum, these machines are taking all my money, lets rather go and have a milkshake." She is now 39 and I think she never went to a casino again.
Australians calling poker machines "pokies" is one of the best things I've heard this month. It's the sweetest, most charming thing I've ever heard. It's as cute as a kitten's meow. I love Ozzies so much. They're such a silly funny bunch.
There was an English politician, cook, raconteur and all-round interesting guy called Clement Freud (grandson of Sigmund and brother of Lucian), who was a gambling addict. I saw him in a documentary he did about his gambling back in the 80s. He claimed that gambling addicts don't want to win; they want to lose. He said that when you've lost far more than you can afford to lose, you initially feel gutted, but underlying that feeling is another one. 'I'm alive, it didn't kill me. I can carry on.' I don't know if that's true for other gambling addicts. I'm just remembering the story.
I was the manager of possibly highest turnover gambling pub in Kings Cross Sydney for some time back around 2010, and can honestly say I felt disgusting reconciling the pokies each morning. Some mornings after a busy 24 hour period from friday to saturday you could have up to $200,000 - $300,000 between 30 machines, sitting in cash in front of you, its hard not to feel ashamed of yourself... but when reporting figures to those above (like the guy from clubs nsw or whatever), its NEVER enough! Just take a look at how gaming rooms are run compared to the public bar... tray service, complimentary softdrinks and cakes, hot foods brought around at certain times with promotions every Tuesday and Thursday. All they care about is keeping people sitting in these rooms cut off from the world around feeding the machines every last cent. People don't understand how badly these venues manipulate their patrons and drain their pockets.
I ran a hotel for 18 months. The hotel had terrific meals for cheap prices, cold beer for low prices, free music jukebox, free pool tables, and great friendly service. If people needed more space or wanted some privacy, I had other large rooms that I would open up to accommodate their needs. And my hotel had ZERO poker machines. I refused to allow them in. And my hotel was relatively a ghost town, while the hotels with poker machines were crowded all day. Lots of people - including potential customers - put a lot of pressure on my to put in a Pub TAB and a room of poker machines, but I stood my ground. And lost a hell of a lot of money as a result. So much for the good guys ...
It's no different from any addiction my addiction is/was alcohol...sadly
Back 10 years ago I had a gambling addiction to these machines. I must of spent 30-40k. I finally got a grip and haven't played since. I do get the urge from time to time but I moved to a city that doesn't have them and I no longer go to casinos. It's an addiction.
I know only too well about problem gambling. I first got hooked on pokies in 1973, and spent the next 45 or 46 years a slave to gambling. I would estimate I lost well over a million. I had a good position in an office with the rail way in NSW. Job was gone in a few years as I was helping myself to money that was not mine. I had a criminal record. I ended up gambling online and the stock markets. I in the end had to declare bankrupt. Spent my last months unable to work and totally penniless. I am now greatfull to be almost 5 years clean. I am on a pension and get by and manage to save a little. I am not against gambling. I am also an alcoholic, now 33 years sober. No one says ban alcohol. People are allergic to Strawberries. It would be ludicrous to ban strawberries. I know gambling and alcohol are not for me. I feel for those with a problem with any addiction.
14 years later and there are 100 times as many machines. You can't beat the lobby
lol the host “how can it happen I can’t understand it” it’s easy you bet max and keep clicking.
Un mundo de luces, sonido, adrenalina, gozo y decepción, el juego un pasatiempo adictivo , gracias por el video.
The worst thing to happen in pokies,is if you have a big win, that's how it hooks you in , you forever chase that win again
Most of the therapists I know who work in addictions won’t take a client with a gambling addiction and will refer them to a specialist in a large practice. It’s the addiction with the highest suicide rate, and of course, most people don’t seek help until they’ve lost almost everything. Online gambling has made everything worse.
Merry Christmas Master 🎉🎉
the differnce between the two cases in regards to the their standing of living is striking
The problem is our Australian Government is totally addicted to Gambling, Tobacco & Alcohol taxes - this is the first red flag!
This segment was filmed in 2009. I wish we could have an update if these poor people beat their pokie addictions
Such a brutal addiction. Im sure the guilt and the shame is unimaginable...
anyone know what the piano song is called at