Pokies no longer fun

[dazjaz]

I've been playing poker machines for at least 40 years and I have never seen it so bad. For a machine manufacturer to guarantee 85 - 92% return over the life of a randomized number system makes no sense. To guarantee this return means that the machines are manipulable, either by the manufacturer or the venue. The guaranteed return has not changed in all the time I have been playing but I assure you, the return was better in the early days. We lost but not the amounts of today. It seems suspicious to me that, with Covid and low wages growth, people cannot afford to go out so the venues need to make up the difference somehow. If anybody has anything they want add, please feel free.

[Safari]

Hi @dazjaz

Welcome to the forum! I'm a moderator here.

Thank you for sharing your experience and understanding of the pokies machines and system. I'm sure many people will relate to what you've said.

[Onearmedbandit]

Its an absokute rip these days mate this 85 - 92% they bang on about.. its def 85 or lower has to be.. we constantly loose too much these days.. its nuts!

[Realme]

I agree with you, they are no longer fun. I’ve been trying all week at different venues and have lost at each one. They make me that depressed, almost to the point of suicidal but I won’t because of my faith in God and that I know that that’s what the machines want us to do, to destroy our sense of worth, they’re very psychological. You are right, the machines manipulate us, con us into believing it’s fun and that we can make money, but it’s not fun and you can’t win, what’s more, it’s an addiction to us. What irritates me though, I always see someone else getting a decent return, many times straight off a machine I’d get off from. But I want to accept that this is all an illusion, they’ve most likely lost too, it’s all an addiction and trick of the machine manipulation to make us think we’ve won. I want to beat this horrid trap

[Amy123]

Hi I’m new here and agree with what you said about the % it’s been so bad the last year and tonight (not for the first) I feel utterly disgusting with myself I can’t believe how much I lost in the past I would justify it to myself by saying things like oh well it’s our play money ( my husband also gambles) But tonight I lost more than I ever thought and I really need a break from it
tonight I told my husband I don’t want to go to the casino anymore and I have said that before but tonight i just feel like crying

[Printemps]

hiya @Amy123 how are you going today? It sounds like last night was a bit of a watershed moment for you. I know that you're not alone in those feelings of disgust, they can be pretty full on. Do you have any stratergies to help you not gamble for a while? It can be really useful having a plan in place so you feel confident as you go about trying to stop or reduce

Let us know how you're traveling.

[dazjaz]

I've found the only way to beat the addiction is not to visit these venues. It makes me feel better knowing that they will not only lose the money I would have lost on the pokies but the money I would have spent
on a meal and drinks. Whose the sucker now.

[ryan1019]

A manager i used to work for in macau says the percentage rtp is 96% there so yes a bit less here