New South Wales Hotels taking $1.1 billion from pokies
Sunday 4th January 2009
It has been revealed that the top 500 hotels in New South Wales, Australia are raking in between them a massive $1.1 billion from electronic poker machines each year. It is estimated that each machine is taking nearly 4 times the annual salary of workers in the region and earning the hosts substantial income on a regular basis. However, there are now calls to limit the use of so-called pokies and introduce strict regulations for the industry.
There is also a deep concern about the number of electronic poker machines situated in lower income level areas of New South Wales with suggestions that the less well off of society are being targeted. The $1.1 billion figure equates to a loss for each and every adult in the state of $200 amid concern that even the tax take from the industry does not make up for the downside.
However, it must be noted that so-called pokies are popular around the world and offer a relatively easy access way to play poker any time of the day. As the economic situation around the globe continues to deteriorate there are concerns that more and more people are using these machines as a possible escape route.
It has been revealed that the top 500 hotels in New South Wales, Australia are raking in between them a massive $1.1 billion from electronic poker machines each year. It is estimated that each machine is taking nearly 4 times the annual salary of workers in the region and earning the hosts substantial income on a regular basis. However, there are now calls to limit the use of so-called pokies and introduce strict regulations for the industry.