In these litigious days it comes as no surprise to learn that someone has decided to sue for the return of money they have lost gambling. After all, it’s just another gamble that might bring them a big win.

The lawsuit is alleging that poker machines in the State of Victoria in Australia do not pay out at the required 87% and therefore contravene the regulations. As many as 300,000 gamblers and their families have been invited to join the fight in a first class action against Tattersall’s, Tabcorp, Crown Casino and the Victorian government. Gaming machine manufacturers, machine operators and industry associations are all to be targets, according to Action Against Gaming Machines.

The claim states that there is evidence that poker machines fail to pay legal rates, based on the use of software from the Productivity Commission and machine manufacturers to simulate win/loss ratios. Operators and the State Government, which says that all the necessary safeguards are in place, have dismissed the claims. After almost a year in the attempt, South Australia has finally legislated for the reduction of poker machines. The months of debate and numerous amendments have now eliminated around 20% of machines in the State, some 3,000. Neither side in the debate is completely happy but the Gambling Minister sees it as a victory, saying that no other State in Australia had had the courage to fight the machine industry.

Even further down under, in New Zealand, poker machines have also come under attack. Recent figures released by the Department of Internal Affairs show an increase of 9% in total gambling spend by the public. The biggest increase came from lottery products but the Problem Gambling Foundation has declared poker machines to be the ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling. Bucking the world trend in lotteries, the New Zealand Lotteries Commission made a profit up 24% from the previous year.

From December 10 smoking in New Zealand will be banned from all workplaces and restricted to open-air venues. The casinos have had time to prepare for the transition and are not expecting any problems, although they are anticipating an initial downturn in trade. However, the United Future leader has announced that he is sponsoring a new Member’s Bill to make the prohibition of smoking only applicable to areas where the air quality does not meet the required standard. He has stated that the technology exists to provide a safe environment even while people smoke.

In Australia and in New Zealand governments are tightening regulations. They are learning from past mistakes and omissions and are endeavouring to make the gaming environment more socially responsible.

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