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Free Spins the 'caffeine' of addiction?

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 10 November, 2011 - 10:09 AM

This morning, Neil Mitchell spoke with Scott Eager, a former pokies addict who reckons that the federal government should target the 'Free Spin' feature on Poker Machines.

Eager said that the free spin feature is the 'caffeine' that fuels poker machine addiction.

"Most money is lost going after that feature," Scott told Neil.

Do you agree?

PLAY: Former pokies addict Scott Eager credits the free spin feature to problem gambling

Mornings with Neil Mitchell

Neil Mitchell is one of Australia’s most experienced journalists. He sets the Melbourne news agenda every day from 8:30am to 12pm. His highlights page here.

Blog comments

all this work to stop pokies from hurting people yet watch any sport coverage and there is betting odds flashed across the screen all the time in front of kids and all yet nothing is being done about that

steve Monday 9 January, 2012 - 5:19 PM
I like the pokies to. but i dont think removing the free spins is going to stop people. Frankly I like the special features. What people need to do is set a limit with there money and only take that much with them.

tam Tuesday 13 December, 2011 - 12:58 PM
I fully agree that the "free spins" are what many (most??) players of poker machines aim for. Yes, I have a problem with playing these machines and am trying to break with them. when playing them, my target is to get the "free spins". The money spent doing so seems, at the time, irrelevant. Deleting this "feature" would go a long way in curing my problem.

David Thursday 10 November, 2011 - 10:36 AM
On a lot of the newer machines you have to play the maximum amount of lines to even get a chance at the free spin. Makes it a lot easier to just walk away. Best cure for gambling addiction ... ever.

Mylene Thursday 10 November, 2011 - 10:17 AM