Ktee Posted April 9, 2017 Report Share Posted April 9, 2017 Ok, first let me say I'm not a huge gambler, but when my mum comes to Australia I usually take her out to the Pokies for an hour or two. I was quite surprised over here, are Pokies banned in pubs and clubs? We went to the casino tonight and I was shocked at how large a venue it is, I've been to the Casino in Sydney, Cairns and Townsville as well as ones in Las Vegas and was shocked at the size. It's a lovely venue, although we were disappointed as we only usually play the 1cent slots and over here 99% of them were a minimum of 5C. It seems like the casino as the monopoly and plays on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted April 9, 2017 Report Share Posted April 9, 2017 Gambling in WA is very stitched up between a couple of individuals and government. The casino makes the gov a bag load of cash in dubious ways - there are free buses picking up pensioners on their pension days, fleecing them and depositing them back at home broken And do not eat there - over priced crap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted April 9, 2017 Report Share Posted April 9, 2017 Gambling in WA is very stitched up between a couple of individuals and government. The casino makes the gov a bag load of cash in dubious ways - there are free buses picking up pensioners on their pension days, fleecing them and depositing them back at home broken And do not eat there - over priced crap. Ha ha, well the pensioners I know spend very little and have a great day out for the company. My friend goes a lot, bus and a meal at the carvery for a great price, and we've eaten at the Atrium and for a buffett there was a lot of variety and we couldn't complain about the quality .. in fact not one of our party felt it was crap. The Merrywell pub also has good pub food. It's a bit like reading restaurant reviews - some will like it and some won't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Posted April 10, 2017 Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 We catch the Crown casino bus twice a week & have a great day out for $10 which covers the cost of transport & lunch with a choice of three restaurants. We have made a lot of friends there & on the bus. No one that we know spend more than they can afford, infact I take a book to read in the lounge up until lunch time or catch the train into Perth while my partner likes to be on a pokie machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossmoyne Posted April 10, 2017 Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 I am not a gambler either and only go to the Casino if I am attending a function in the convention suite or a performance at the theatre. I sometimes wander around the gambling hall if I am with friends who want to have a flutter, but it holds no fascination for me at all as I don't bet. The place is always busy though so they obviously make a lot from the gambling public. I think it is the only place in Perth, and probably in WA, that there are poker machines, and I guess if you are used to seeing them at every RSL and Surf Club on the east coast, it would be strange to just see them in one place here. Eating wise there are many different eateries, cafes, restaurants there that cater for all tastes and wallets. I have eaten there on many an occasion and whilst nothing seems outstandingly good or bad, I have always been happy with my choices. Food is so subjective though isn't it, and one person would be over the moon to have a highly priced nouveau cuisine meal at Nobu, whilst another would be happy to go for the Asian banquet in the cheapest cafe there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Posted April 10, 2017 Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 I am visiting family in Adelaide at the moment & have been going to the casino here where you can buy a nice fish & chip lunch for $5. Most of the machines here are 1c & 2c. Perth casino are having a great many installed soon I hear. Most are 5c at the moment. Every pub & club have a gaming room here with pokie machines, unlike WA. But I hear many complaints from locals who think it has caused social problems since it came into being, sometime in the late 80's. So I think we have it better in Perth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Druid Posted April 10, 2017 Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 We went for the Sunday all you can eat carvery once, qued up with the pensioners and were very dissapointed with the quality of food, mass produced tasteless crud, next time we tried the Atrium, what a difference, food was fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Posted April 10, 2017 Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 I agree regarding The Carvery. There are three choices of dining on the $10 bus deal for the Pensioners . . . The Carvery, snack Bar & the Noodle House. I always go to the Noodle House, a Chinese menu but it is freshly cooked & not buffet style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ktee Posted April 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 I am visiting family in Adelaide at the moment & have been going to the casino here where you can buy a nice fish & chip lunch for $5.Most of the machines here are 1c & 2c. Perth casino are having a great many installed soon I hear. Most are 5c at the moment. Every pub & club have a gaming room here with pokie machines, unlike WA. But I hear many complaints from locals who think it has caused social problems since it came into being, sometime in the late 80's. So I think we have it better in Perth. It's strange isn't it as I don't see gambling as a social problem, not like drinking and drugs. In the UK we always had pokies (Slot machine) in the pubs and I never saw any trouble. Like you say Anne every other state have them in the clubs and pubs. It just feels like someone is getting a back hander from keeping it in the casino only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted April 10, 2017 Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 Ha ha, well the pensioners I know spend very little and have a great day out for the company. My friend goes a lot, bus and a meal at the carvery for a great price, and we've eaten at the Atrium and for a buffett there was a lot of variety and we couldn't complain about the quality .. in fact not one of our party felt it was crap. The Merrywell pub also has good pub food. It's a bit like reading restaurant reviews - some will like it and some won't We watched a lot of pensioners lose everything. There have been a number of documentaries on it slamming the casino. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted April 10, 2017 Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 The restaurants we went to were the upper end. We fell in love with Rockpool when we lived in Sydney, but the one in the casino was one of the worst meals ever. We are fairly typical Brits - smile and pretend all is ok rather than complain, but there had to send food back twice. On a $800 meal for three. Not good enough. The other high end were as bad. Also found the rooms pushing it to call themselves 3* and don't even think about the cheap hotel just outside the complex. The suites are not much better than hostel level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted April 10, 2017 Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 We watched a lot of pensioners lose everything. There have been a number of documentaries on it slamming the casino. I'm sure it happens, but I know a lot who love the $10 trip, it's a way of socialising and meeting friends. I have been to the casino several times and not gambled a penny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ktee Posted April 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2017 I'm sure it happens, but I know a lot who love the $10 trip, it's a way of socialising and meeting friends. I have been to the casino several times and not gambled a penny. We are the same, like I say I only go to the pokies when mum is over, we don't drink or smoke so it's the only place to go for some entertainment especially as I can't really go out for a meal now. Some of the clubs on the East coast give you free coffee/tea and even cakes and sandwiches. We play the 1c slots and bet 20 lines. We share one machine and put in $25 each maximum. Sometimes mum puts in more whilst I sit and play games on my phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ktee Posted April 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2017 The restaurants we went to were the upper end. We fell in love with Rockpool when we lived in Sydney, but the one in the casino was one of the worst meals ever. We are fairly typical Brits - smile and pretend all is ok rather than complain, but there had to send food back twice. On a $800 meal for three. Not good enough. The other high end were as bad. Also found the rooms pushing it to call themselves 3* and don't even think about the cheap hotel just outside the complex. The suites are not much better than hostel level. you see I could never spend $800 on a meal. I think coming to Perth for the 5 days with accommodation and food cost me less than that and this included the trip to the casino lol. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Posted April 11, 2017 Report Share Posted April 11, 2017 I stopped watching Currant Affair when I realized how desperate they are for a story. Perhaps VS is referring to the Sydney casino & 'broke pensioners'. Most of the pensioners on our casino bus are talking about the last cruise they went on! My partner spends $20 & is often very lucky with his wins. I only spend the $3 free 'play money' that is part of the $10 you pay for the fun pack. It also includes a free entry to Keno, on which I won $100 one time! I believe this fortnight is the '$5 frenzy' on the casino bus trip. So even better value! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossmoyne Posted April 11, 2017 Report Share Posted April 11, 2017 I'm sure it happens, but I know a lot who love the $10 trip, it's a way of socialising and meeting friends. I have been to the casino several times and not gambled a penny. Totally agree Ali. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arwen Posted April 11, 2017 Report Share Posted April 11, 2017 It's strange isn't it as I don't see gambling as a social problem, not like drinking and drugs. In the UK we always had pokies (Slot machine) in the pubs and I never saw any trouble. Like you say Anne every other state have them in the clubs and pubs. It just feels like someone is getting a back hander from keeping it in the casino only. It's a massive problem, as big as drink and drugs. It's just not as obvious as them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Posted April 11, 2017 Report Share Posted April 11, 2017 I am a pensioner & we love the $10 bus trip, having made many friends meeting up for the bus twice a week. Personally I am in favour of gambling staying at the casino & not in every pub & club. I returned from Adelaide today & most people I spoke to said that WA was on the right track by keeping it there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ktee Posted April 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2017 It's a massive problem, as big as drink and drugs. It's just not as obvious as them. I'm not saying gambling isn't a problem but it's not what I would class a social problem. If you had 10 pokie machines in a pub you are more likely to see trouble from the amount drunk than someone feeding coins into a slot machine (That's until their partner finds out how much they have spent and that's another story lol) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arwen Posted April 11, 2017 Report Share Posted April 11, 2017 I'm not saying gambling isn't a problem but it's not what I would class a social problem. If you had 10 pokie machines in a pub you are more likely to see trouble from the amount drunk than someone feeding coins into a slot machine (That's until their partner finds out how much they have spent and that's another story lol) I agree it may not manifest itself in public the same as drinking does but behind closed doors it is a huge issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted April 11, 2017 Report Share Posted April 11, 2017 you see I could never spend $800 on a meal. I think coming to Perth for the 5 days with accommodation and food cost me less than that and this included the trip to the casino lol. Horses for courses. We got the fur baby in 2008 and so haven't had an international holiday since. So, our splurge has been a couple of trips a year to a very good restaurant. Though the meal in question was to say bye to my son who had been in Oz on a year WHV and the last time I saw him prior was to bury his sister. He came out straight after. So, a splurge felt right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eVmk78 Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 I don't see how playing a slot machine is bad for bars. It is not more different than scratching a ticket but most wouldn't worry about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Posted January 3, 2019 Report Share Posted January 3, 2019 Arwen- Unfortunately here in Australia people (like yourself) don’t understand that it’s not Gambling that’s to blame for the self destructive behaviour we see, the same way it’s not the fast food or alcohol’s fault. These people who have problems with addiction generally suffer from mental health issues. People need to stop playing the blame game, the last time I checked the poker machine didn’t hold a gun to my head and make me play it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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