OK - what does KB think of this?

[SMOKEU]

Highlights the need to adjust the laws a bit I reckon. Yes its technically gambling, but as it only happens once per year, there's no chance of a problematic habit forming.

The difference is gambling's business model makes money off an unhealthy addiction, a more apt comparison would be with smokers. Personally I don't think it should be banned (as many people do gamble healthily), but more checks to limit problem gambling could be put in place.

Well you go tell the kid that doesnt get food because the monies in a machine or the wife that ends up homeless because the mortgage stopped getting payed 3months earlier.
Your so short sighted you cant see a flow on effect if its about to mow you down.
Maybe someone will steal your bike and sell it to feed their gambling addiction so you can wake up.

You're forgetting that gambling is a CHOICE that people make. They can CHOOSE not to gamble if they don't want to. It's not physically addictive like drugs or alcohol; the body does not crave it, and I simply don't believe the whole "gambling is addictive" bullshit. A good family friend of ours had a good career and a house, but then he gambled it all away to the point that all he had was the clothes on his back. Yet, I don't believe for one minute that he didn't have a choice in what he did. He simply gambled more to try and cover the losses, but no one held a gun to his head or a knife to his throat and forced him to gamble his life away. If a child goes hungry because the parents are wasting all their money on gambling, then it's not the fault of the pokie machines or the pub who runs them.

People should start to learn to take some fucking responsibility for their own actions instead of blaming everything on society. These days it's far too easy to look for a scapegoat rather than for people to sort their own shit out.

[bogan]

You're forgetting that gambling is a CHOICE that people make. They can CHOOSE not to gamble if they don't want to. It's not physically addictive like drugs or alcohol; the body does not crave it, and I simply don't believe the whole "gambling is addictive" bullshit.

Physical or mental addiction both require the addicted to make the 'choice' to 'use' again. How can you say physical cravings are that much harder to ignore than mental ones? And some may argue the endorphines or whatever while gambling leads to physically motived cravings.

[Akzle]

You're forgetting that gambling is a CHOICE

no. gambling is an (mental) ILLNESS and they need HELP because they're just poor people, and they can't make decisions for themselves, now can they. if they did. well, they wouldn't need the government to do it for them. and the government knows you need them. they know what's best.
back to sleep.

[Paul in NZ]

FFS - this isnt about gambling addiction. Its about a set of miserable cunts trying to stop people having a good time doing the very things that make us Kiwis. Sure they are discussing the big ticket things like cars and boats etc offered as spot prizes but where does this end? It would make the good old chocolate wheel at the local school fair illegal or a prize draw at a trade show. Fuck em...

Make bloody pokies illegal and the only way you can gamble is spot prizes at outdoor events...

[oneofsix]

FFS - this isnt about gambling addiction. Its about a set of miserable cunts trying to stop people having a good time doing the very things that make us Kiwis. Sure they are discussing the big ticket things like cars and boats etc offered as spot prizes but where does this end? It would make the good old chocolate wheel at the local school fair illegal or a prize draw at a trade show. Fuck em...

Make bloody pokies illegal and the only way you can gamble is spot prizes at outdoor events...

Agree with some of that Paul but there has always been a limit below which they don't care, probably still $10 since we first decimalised. Still I understand and agree with your point of view, like any pokie addict is going to enter a fishing comp in the hope of getting a big prize FFS. The pokie companies are only trying a bit of mis-direction to take the heat off themselves and yet they and organisations like them are part of the cycle that has seen the need for the prizes to grow so big.

[Akzle]

...the good old chocolate wheel at the local school fair illegal ...

already is. google your new food bill.

[oneofsix]

no. gambling is an (mental) ILLNESS and they need HELP because they're just poor people, and they can't make decisions for themselves, now can they. if they did. well, they wouldn't need the government to do it for them. and the government knows you need them. they know what's best.
back to sleep.

Appears the courts must agree with you reading this yoyu can even abandon your kids and get discharged without conviction providing it is in a casino car park

I'm with Paul. leave the spot prizes alone at least these competitions get the people out and about instead of sitting in a dim room room consuming drink and food.

[mashman]

I'm with Paul. leave the spot prizes alone at least these competitions get the people out and about instead of sitting in a dim room room consuming drink and food.

Gambling with your health... praps the pokies trust should complain about that too