Do you play the pokies?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (380588)
Rockingham, Australia
May 25, 2026 12:51am CST
Pokies are poker machines. I gather they're called by various names including slot machines.
We watched a programme about gambling in Australia and some surprising statistics were given. Australia has less than half a percent of the world's population but 20% of its poker machines.
For a long time, our state, Western Australia, was the only state without poker machines. We have them now but only in the Crown Casino whereas other states have them in casinos, Returned Servicemen’s Leagues (RSL) venues, hotels and clubs.
When it comes to gambling losses per person, Australia is by far the gambling capital of the world. Not something to be proud of in my opinion.
The photo shows the swanky bathroom of Perth Crown Casino where we stayed one night on a special occasion.
8 people like this
8 responses
@LindaOHio (221580)
• United States
4h
I don't like the poker machines. I play the regular slots on the rare occasions when we've been to a casino...only twice in my life.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43437)
• Denver, Colorado
7h
Very rarely. I grew up around gambling in Nevada, so it's not really a big deal to me. I have some friends though...
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (380588)
• Rockingham, Australia
1h
Some are able to enjoy playing now and again but others become totally addicted. Gambling online has had an impact too as it's so easy to have a bet on just about anything.
@jefferson126 (3666)
• Shenzhen, China
7h
Many years ago i was obsessive about poker machine,and i lost amount of money at that time.Then i was aware that totally was gamble,i no more played poker machine later on.I saw somebody lost much money on poker machine.Now there isn't poker machine here.Hope quantity of poker machine no longer increase where you are.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (380588)
• Rockingham, Australia
1h
It's very easy to become addicted to gambling. The show we watched was very informative. I'm glad you were able to give it up.
@Juliaacv (55995)
• Canada
4h
I feel like we have many more places with legalized gambling, including the slots, than we used to.
I know that online gambling has grown at an alarming rate in the past couple of years.
It is so highly addictive, as one doesn't need to leave their home to do it and it is there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
