More Concerns over Gaming in Australia

This article comes from Highwaygames.com

Recent reports show Sydney's poker machines have earned $2.3billion dollars or $45,000 net profit per machine, with more concerns that low income people are adding gaming into their weekly budgets at the expense of food.

Profits from poker machines in Sydney Australia have almost doubled in four years with most of the growth coming from poorer areas such as Western Sydney & Fairfield/Liverpool. Such reports may no longer be possible a sthe minister for Gaming and Racing announced all future poker machine turnover figures will be kept secret. Almost 11% of the New South Wales government revenue comes from gaming taxes.

The move to hide the figures comes from significant pressure from hotels and clubs, who argue that increased profits have resulted in increased facilities and services. However the opposition leader argues "What is the primary service of a pub now? They are being turned into mini casinos". The opposition leader goes to argue that for most households in these areas, its the difference between eating steak or mince.

The highest losses per machine were in outer western Sydney where yearly poker machines profits were a staggering $152,000 per machine.