Saturday, January 21, 2012

Playing the Pokies Game

I have conflicting thoughts about the current political argument going on regarding pokie machines. I'm certainly away of the fact that there are people who have huge problems with losing too much money gambling on the pokies. I'm sorry for these people and their families. I hope they find help to cure them of their addiction.

But I like playing the pokies, I find it enjoyable. Every now and then, if I'm at the local hotel and I have some spare cash, I might take a drink and sit and play the pokies until the money runs out. I always use up only the spare change I have, or get five or so dollar coins in my change. Once that money's gone, that's it.

Sometimes I take home more than I arrived with, sometimes I don't. Either way, I enjoy myself. I might have a chat with any other gamblers there, or chat with my hubby if we're gone there together. I feel connected with my community when I'm there. Most of the time, I already know the other gamblers there, because we're all members of the same community.

If may be different if I was somewhere different, somewhere away from my other life. I've never felt like gambling more than my spare change, and certainly never more than ten dollars. I don't go very often either, never more than once a week, and it's not unusual for many weeks to go past without a session on the pokies.

Gambling was part of my early life. My father was a harness horse trainer, my older brother his reinsman. Once I was 18 I sometimes bet on a horse. My father's gone now, but my younger brother maintains the racing connection, as an owner. Sometimes I'll place a bet on one of his horses, sometimes they win, sometimes they lose, it's all part of the gamble.

So, that's my gambling story, I'm prepared to spend some money to possibly win some more. But the way I look at it, it's spending money to go to a concert, or a sporting match. You pay the money to have the fun. If you can't afford it, you don't do it. It may be I'm missing something there, but I don't see dangers in gambling as such. Properly regulated, gambling can be a fun for of entertainment.

I've written a poem about the pokies, read it if you wish, and please, leave you comments on this vexing issue.

Pro Pokie Poem


Husband and I at the pub
a drink each and five one dollar coins.
Put the coins in then press the button,
enjoying ourselves, no need to rush.

The lights and music come on, I forget
the pollie’s arguments and we just sip,
chat and push buttons, win or lose,
it doesn’t matter, we’re having fun.


6 comments:

john malone said...

nice little poem, Carolyn; it reflects your casual attitude towards an issue that for some is charged with emotion;

Carolyn Cordon said...

Thanks John. It seems to be one of those things where we all must miss out so that a minority will be safe.

I have no problems with reform of the gambling industry, and I welcome things that will help those with addictions and financial problems caused by them. But I don't like the way a harmless past time has been made to be the only cause.

Gambling is an Australian thing, an Asian thing, a European thing. Cultures all around the world have gambled in many different ways. Now though, big businesses are making huge profits from the poor folk who can't control their gambling.

I'd like this to be looked at more closely. A lot of work and money is spent to make pokie machines more 'attractive' to the gambler. And there are more and more forms of gambling available to everyone. I have issues with some of the gambling on cricket matches and can see there are terrible things that could go on with match fixing.

Is the government looking at those things, I wonder?

john malone said...

I find it disturbing that gambling seems to be going on in areas where it never used to: like the outcome of football or cricket matches or placings in the Olympics --- and we haven't even mentioned online gambling

Carolyn Cordon said...

It almost seems the media is focusing on pokies and ignoring the other moves the government is planning.

I don't like gambling interfering with things children like - there are a lot of impressionable boys watching their favourite sports - gambling shouldn't have any place in such things.

Carolyn Cordon said...

I dropped into the Mallala Hotel again today to back a horse. The visit cost me $4.50 for a super yummy iced coffee, $4.00 for the bet and $3.00 lost to the pokies.

I put in $9.00 to lose the $3.00 on the pokie machine. While was there I chatted with friends, and found out the name and phone number of a painter who can help me with a little paint job.

So the trip cost me $11.50 net all up and I feel the hour or so was well worth the cost. I was going to Mallala anyway, so why the hell not go and have some fun?

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