It's the Gaming Machine's Fault

Earlier this year the writer and a number of colleagues attended a presentation held by Tim Falkiner a Melbourne Barrister.  Mr Falkiner’s presentation focussed on how problem gamblers who commit crimes should be treated more leniently as their addiction was predominantly the fault of the gaming machine, not personal choice or personal responsibility.

Mr Falkiner was of the view that there are three classes of problem gamblers, the old fashioned action gambler, the action gaming machine gambler and the escape gaming machine problem gambler.

The old fashioned action gambler does not play gaming machines but enjoys horse racing, table games and sports betting. 

The action gaming machine gambler uses the gaming machine for the sole purpose of the excitement of winning money with large amounts gambled when the jackpot is high.

The escape gambler uses the gaming machine for a “morphine-like anaesthesia”.  Mr Falkiner’s view is that this class of gambler includes women suffering from a range of traumas including abuse, assault, relationship breakups and depression.

The topic which was most controversial was how the gaming machines are apparently designed to attract to each type of gambler.

The action machine gambler is said to favour the machines which have solar, masculine and active themes which are direct, competitive, logical and tempt with prize money.

The escape gambler is said to favour machines which have hearts, dolphins, Gods, Goddesses, dragons and unicorns.  These machines have lunar, feminine, passive, spiritual and love themes.  A lot was made of the link between religion and the theming of gaming machines.  It was even said that the Las Vegas Terminator gaming machine was religiously themed as the Terminator (like Jesus) was resurrected from the dead.  The symbols on the machines are said to have a symbolic syntax.  Symbols of geisha girls were said to be attractive to people who had been the subject of sexual abuse.  The colours used were said to have been specially designed.  The colours were typically gold, blue, pink and purple with red, green and brown being avoided.  The machine features were also programmed to be attractive to the escape gambler.  An escape gambler does not seek to win money but to prolong the experience and thus enjoys and favours features such as free spins.

Not only were the machines blamed for being gold and blue with dolphins and hearts but also deemed to be evil due to the “greatest illusion in the history of the world – the 100 year secret of the real gaming machine”.  The “100 year secret” is the fact that on a five reel gaming machine four reels may have multiple symbols, e.g. three pyramids, but the fifth reel will only have one symbol, e.g. one pyramid.  This unbalanced reel system generates an appearance of near misses and encourages further play.  This is said to be misleading conduct which should be stopped by consumer protection laws.  The obvious factor was however overlooked, this is gambling.  If the reel was evenly balanced and generated continuous wins, there would be no gamble.

The final statistic which was plucked from the air was the suggestion that in Australia the gaming machine manufacturers spend billions of dollars each year on research and development and spend more money on research and development than the Holden Motor Company.

While it cannot be denied that gaming machines are designed (like all consumer products) to be attractive to customers it is of concern that the culpability of a gambler who steals to gamble is blamed on blue and gold colours, churchlike symbols and an unbalanced reel.  The gaming machines clearly state their return to player and the odds of each symbol combination occurring.  Jackpot linked gaming machines typically return 91.5% to the player.  This is one of the most favourable odds of all forms of gambling in New Zealand.  All gaming machines in New Zealand are thoroughly tested and approved for use.  Passing the blame to the gaming machine appears to send a message to problem gamblers that they can be excused for any related crime rather than encouraging the only real thing which will reduce problem gambling and related crime namely self responsibility and self control.