Left-wing academic James Doughney has just published this excellent article on the pokies industry in Victoria. He argues that harm is not an unfortunate side effect of the pokies industry, but core business.
He also outlines the latest research (and industry leaks) which shows that pokies are designed to undermine self-control, making ‘responsible gambling’ a myth. Therefore, like tobacco, the product itself is the problem - yet industry and government continue to blame the victims.

Doughney then puts forward strategies to take on the industry in 2006. The Socialist Party will be part of a campaign in 2006 to stop the Victorian Government from implementing its secret plan to extend pokies licences by 20 years - 7 years in advance!

Click here (and go to ‘IPIC 2005 Transcripts’; then last article on page) to read James Doughney’s “The Poker Machine State: Unethical governance and its implications for policy and social activism”.