A trial of voluntary pre-commitment just won’t cut it anymore. After the suicide of problem gambler Julie Smith, local politicians want to see the government make more of an effort to reform Australia’s gambling market. While many players enjoy gaming on a casual basis, there are those that are vulnerable to developing addictions – and reforms should be in place to help these individuals.

Earlier this week, Smith had discovered to have committed suicide after her gambling habit got out of control. It was revealed that she had spent $1000 per week on poker machines and other forms of gambling. In a great deal of debt and suffering from depression, Smith made the unfortunate decision to take her own life. This sad story has inspired local politicians to fight for effective gambling reforms.

According to MP Andrew Wilkie, pub owners should be held accountable. Senator Nick Xenophon believes that staff should be trained to recognize the signs of problem gambling; so, clubs are able to intervene before it’s too late. MP Katherine King of Ballarat has also backed the idea of improving conditions in the gaming market, with more counselling support, exclusion programs and staff training.

About the Author

George Anderson
Author George, has over 25+ years’ experience in the Pokies and Casinos industry throughout Australia and New Zealand. Loves to research new Pokies games on the block and follows announcements from top industry providers about their upcoming releases. As soon as a new interesting pokie game appears on his radar, George is there to check it out and give you the scoop before anyone else and tell you about all casino sites where can play the latest game. Before this gig, George worked as Pokie game tester, making him an ideal candidate for this genre of work. He is also an animal lover and a proud owner of three dogs.