Australians lost over AUD$15 billion in 2001-2002. That's over AUS$1,000 per Australian aged 18 and over. Link

Almost every city in Australia has a casino and a lottery. Several states allow video poker in bars and clubs.

Not too surprisingly, the state with the lowest losses per head at $469 -- my former home, Western Australia -- has no video poker in bars and clubs, while the three states with the heaviest losses all have slots-a-plenty in all kinds of establishments.

The enemy in Australia isn't just a cultural predilection to gambling behavior from the convict ancestors. Australian state governments have notoriously juicy arrangements around the legalization of casinos and video gaming. Most states have a monopoly agreement whereby one single casino is allowed in the state in exchange for a huge chunk of tax revenue. That equates to an environment much unfriendlier to players than Las Vegas or Atlantic City. For example, the blackjack rules at Burswood Casino in Perth, Western Australia carry about a 0.9% house edge, as opposed to about 0.4% in the 6-deck games at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Non-casino slot machines consumed the most money in Australia, with $8.9 billion lost against $85 billion gambled -- giving the average slot machine in a bar or restaurant a poor 89.5% payout rate, compared to 92-95% for most casino slot machines in Vegas and 95-100% for most video poker machines (at perfect play) in Vegas.

The natural reaction to reports like this is to become aghast at the amount of gambling losses. While that is probably a justifiable reaction, I'd blame at least 30-60% of the losses incurred on the stifling of competition by Australian state governments.

Burswood Casino Stops Paying Out On Gaming Machines

As a resident of Perth WA I wish to inform gaming machine gamblers that Burswood Casino Perth WA since being taken over around August 2004 has stoped paying out on all gaming machines.

Since August 2004 I have spent on average $500.00 per week giving me a total loss to date of about 24000.00 and in this time I have won $400.00.

Once apon a time I would have won back 25% of what I loss, these times are now over.

Anyone choosing to gamble in the slots in Perth will lose and all regular gamblers are complaining of the same thing.

Saturdays use to be a big day at Burswood, now the casino is half full and most machines lay idle.

Burswood Casino's new owners have introduced the new RIP OFF scheme and if a player writes a letter to management of complaint they are simple ignored.

Burswood Casino Perth WA the home to RIP OFF Merhcnats.

Posted by: Perth Resident on April 10, 2005 06:50 AM

Burswood Casino Stops Paying Out On Gaming Machines

As a resident of Perth WA I wish to inform gaming machine gamblers that Burswood Casino Perth WA since being taken over around August 2004 has stoped paying out on all gaming machines.

Since August 2004 I have spent on average $500.00 per week giving me a total loss to date of about 24000.00 and in this time I have won $400.00.

Once apon a time I would have won back 25% of what I loss, these times are now over.

Anyone choosing to gamble in the slots in Perth will lose and all regular gamblers are complaining of the same thing.

Saturdays use to be a big day at Burswood, now the casino is half full and most machines lay idle.

Burswood Casino's new owners have introduced the new RIP OFF scheme and if a player writes a letter to management of complaint they are simple ignored.

Burswood Casino Perth WA the home to RIP OFF Merchants.

Posted by: Perth Resident on April 10, 2005 06:50 AM

Win Big At Burswood Casino Perth

My fifth visit to this casino in the past year since the new owners took over management of the once good casino and after spending large amounts of dollars per day I am unable to win any of the advertised jackpots displayed on the gaming machines.

I found the patrons complaining about never being able to win an amount of money that could be considered a win. Yes if you are happy to win back a third of your losses for the day then you will be happy but if you are trying to double or triple the money you are betting then I suggest you keep away from this casino, nobody ever wins.
The staff quickly run away if they hear anyone complaining and they know the casino is doing a cash crab and will continue for years to come.

Perth has only one casino and it is time smaller venues are allowed to have slot machines, this will keep the odds fair and stop the greedy monopoly going on.

People who live in Perth and like to gamble have their money stolen from them everyday and this must stop.

Remember when you gamble you have to expect to lose but part of the excitment is winning and Burswood casino has now become a very morbid, dull, boring 3 star resort casino.

Keep Away!

J Lee

Posted by: Jim Lee on August 9, 2005 06:20 AM

Directors Destroy Burswood
Once a fun casino the new directors of Burswood Casino have turned Burswood into a predictable boring casino.
I used to love going to Burswood every week with my few hundred dollars tepmting lady luck and see if I could win. At leat 5 times out of 52 weeeks I would win $1000+ and it was great but now after 2 solid years since Burswood was taken over by PBL I can only manage to double my money if I am very lucky and all other times I just lose.

I sincerely hate the way Burswoods has become a predictable money losing casino with zero excitment filled with lots of false hopes and miserable experiences. The new owners have realy fucked up a once great place and turned it into a place suitable for the dead.

Burswood directors should read this comment and see how their patrons have left or given up trying to win anything from this discusting new environment.

Burswood and all it has to offer can now go and get fucked and burn in eternal hell as this is what they are doing to their patrons who just want to have an occasional win so they too can have some money in their pocket and go out and have some fun.

Fuck you Burswood.

Posted by: Stephanie MK on November 12, 2005 01:50 AM

Win Big Always at Burswood and other majaor Casino's - Secret Inside Information
After reading the comments from the other gamblers on this site I felt it was important to share one of the biggest secrets that casino's worldwide hate gamblers to know about but will garuntee you always come out a winner.
Gamblers fail to realise that casino's are big business and their main aim is to make as much money from you, the gambler in the shortest amount of time, so here are a few guidlines that if followed religously will never let you down and see you coming out of the casino's with big bucks!!
1) Never go to the casino more then once every month. Casino's need to entice you to come back to spend your money, as soon as they see you come often they have no reason to let you win as they now have you hooked.
2) Never go to the casino with anymore then $50.00. Once the casino knows you are coming with big money on a regular basis they will ensure the machines and tables are literaly ''Turned Off" in your favour.
3) Never go to the casino and take out more money from an ATM or any other means to gambler some more. As soon as the casino knows you have more money to lose they will ensure they take the money off you very quickly so you get more and more and more of your money taken off you.
4) Once you win leave straight away! No Exceptions

Casino's love regular and problem gamblers, they know they do not need to do anything to keep those gamblers coming back and in fact if you speak to any regular patron you will find that they would have never won anything in the years they have visited the casino but their loses will be extremely high.
Casino's will do anything to make you become a regular patron and the only way they can do this is by letting you win often, as soon as the casino is confiedent that you are hooked they will turn off the wins in a flash and take everything youve got. So if you realy want to win big each and every time you go to the casino remember the golden rules.
1) Never go often
2) Only go with small money
3) Never get more cash out
4) leave as soon as youve won

Happy Gambling

Posted by: Adrian Burch on November 16, 2005 04:31 AM