In this 11-minute easy-to-watch video actor Jay Laga'aia sorts through the many myths, misunderstandings and superstitions surrounding these machines.
How do gaming machines really work?
Can you affect their performance?
What are the real odds of winning?

Wendy Bendal explains how gambling has affected her family's life. She explains how her husband was able to gamble away the family's money and questions how the gaming industry can make this possible.

Natasha Dow Schüll spent 15 years studying Las Vegas casinos and the slot machines designed to pull users into a "machine zone" where worries, social demands, and even bodily awareness fade away. She joins The Agenda to discuss her book, "Addiction by Design," and those pocket slot machines: smart phones.

Gamblers Help West Victoria

Gambling is an addiction associated with mental health problems including depression, anxiety and anti-social personality disorder. Gambling addictions can lead to many serious conse-quences, including loss of jobs, failed relationships and severe debt. Problem gambling effects can also include avoiding others due to shame or embarrassment. There are needs for public health and treatment services to routinely screen and as-sess for a range of issues, including gambling problems, family violence, alcohol and drug abuse and mental health concerns and provide treatments designed to manage this cluster of conditions. Seek assistance from your local organisation!

Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation

The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation is an independent agency responsible for reducing problem gambling and minimising harm from gambling. We run problem gambling treatment and support services across Victoria for those who are having problems with gambling as well as their families and friends. Our professional development centre provides world class training to gambling counsellors throughout the state and we work with a range of leading public health groups to address the impact of problem gambling in the community.

Gamblers Anonymous Australia

Gam-Anon is a 12 Step self-help fellowship of men and women who have been affected by the gambling problem of another. We understand as perhaps few can. We are familiar with worry and sleepless nights and promises made only to be broken. We may have become fearful and uncertain as to how to cope with the deterioration in our lives and our relationships, the financial problems, and the debts caused by the gambling. We know that living with the effects of another's gambling can often be too devastating to bear without help. With the help of Gam-Anon, we find our way back to a normal way of thinking and living, whether or not our loved ones continue to gamble. We believe that a change in our attitudes is of boundless helps to us as well as to our gamblers..