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In the face of new tighter restriction on their poker machines, bars and clubs in Australia are not content with pleading their own case, they apparently feel compelled to sabotage online casinos as well.  Unfortunately, scientific study is not on their side.

New legislation may soon be passed that will forbid watering holes in Australia from carrying ATMs.  The Australian government is attempting to reduce problem gambling numbers.  Australia is among the top countries for highest gambling wagers made by citizens each month.  Taking ATMs out of establishments with poker machines will in theory slow down the impulses of a compulsive gambler.

Supporters of brick and mortar gambling establishments and online casinos do agree on one point, problem gambling seems to have been stabilized.  There is no doubt that people are gambling more, much of that is thanks to online casinos; never before has gambling been more accessible to players than after the emergence of online casinos.  Gambling will only become more accessible in the future when mobile online casinos really take off.  However, at the same time, the rate of problem gambling does not seem to have changed.  If anything problem gambling seems to have decreased, but only by a fraction of a percent.

One thing that online casinos have working for them is that some study shows that players at online casinos seem to be showing more restraint than players passing time in a bar or club.  This point may be the reason the Clubs Australia feels so compelled to bring online casinos into an argument that is strictly between them and their government.

“Internet gambling...is in our view the most significant area for the future growth of problem gambling,” declared a statement issued by Clubs Australia.

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