Poker machines know how to win
IS THERE a pokie player who does not understand the underlying principle of the law of diminishing returns, which determines the role of the machines in the pub, club and casino world?
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Does anyone really believe that such an establishment would stand for an "employee" which returns more money to the player than it retains for the house?
Do players not know the rules that machines are regulated by the owner and required by law in Tasmania to return a minimum of 85 per cent, but most are tuned up and give back around 90 per cent of monies invested? Commence playing with $100 and at that rate it must surely disappear over time. Ignorance of that is inexcusable.
Something less known about pokies is what goes into their deadly design.
In order for pokies to work so slickly, manufacturers have enlisted the help of highly paid professionals to assist in research and development sections to exploit human frailty and create a victim of addiction.
Players of modern-day machines are dealing with a device, which is the product of many years of research conducted by psychologists, audiologists, neurologists, physiologists, hypnotists, mathematicians and human behaviour experts, the result of which is absolutely lethal to the hard earned dollar.
Their combined efforts allow machine manufacturers to prosper by the manner in which, through a combination of tantalising near misses, small payouts and an occasional jackpots, accompanied by alluring graphics and lulling music and lights, players are glued to the chair in front of them.
Once that is achieved, then getting the money is easy as one, two, three.
Which way is Consumer Affairs looking?
Noel Christensen, Punchbowl.
Loss of UTAS Law academics
PROFESSOR Tim McCormack, dean of the law faculty, University of Tasmania, will be a big loss for the university as a dean, juxtaposed with the recent retirement of Rick Snell, also from UTAS's law school.
Professor McCormack's knowledge of international humanitarian law is recognised internationally, albeit cloaked under an unassuming humility, combined with a dignified respect for all members of society, is at times, a rare trait amongst his peers in the legal profession, where bravado and ego outbreaks seem to pervade like a societal contagion.
Kenneth Gregson, Swansea.
No need to replace the kangaroo
THE new Australian product symbol that is supposedly wattle with AU in the middle is not a decent representation for the country.
The image looks nothing like wattle and AU could mean Australia or Austria.
And apparently it took years and millions of dollars to come up with this unrealistic image. The stylised kangaroo used on products is known worldwide and is easily recognised as being Australian product without having to include AU.
The flying kangaroo on QANTAS jets identifies Australia.
If the symbol needed to be changed, which it didn't, the community should have been consulted, a competition run, businesses that already use the stylised kangaroo asked for input. The kangaroo is Australian as they come, leave it alone.
Alan Leitch, Austins Ferry.
Think of our feathered friends
LOCAL opposition to the prison proposal for Westbury should be a wake up call to the government to pay attention to the importance of reserves of natural areas containing birds in our landscape, and the bio diverse richness of the site in question.
With a total of 32 birds, three on the endangered species list, it's certainly a hotspot for bird life. Monitoring throughout the state has shown that many once common birds are now in decline.
If you don't think birds are important, think of insect control, pollination, seed spread, fertilisation, and rats, mice, and rabbit control by raptors.
Birds do matter, we need them.
How many of us enjoy the morning chorus of our feathered friends and the joy of seeing them in the wild? How many of these beautiful creatures are we prepared to keep sacrificing for development? Find a new site on already degraded land for the prison, and leave the Westbury reserve alone.
Beris Hansberry, Gould's Country.
Westbury standing at a crossroads
Imagine a fork in the road.
One road leads to the quiet, peaceful country village, with a friendly caring community, where you have chosen to live. A place you love.
The other road leads to a very different place. Bigger, noisier, completely different community. Not so friendly. Not where you want to live. Experts and others, who know far better than you what is best for you, are busy demolishing the road to your village, which will soon be no more.
Imagine standing at that crossroads, disbelieving, sad, angry... and having no choice.
Imagine Westbury.
Heather Donaldson, Westbury
Does new prison site comply?
CONGRATULATIONS must go to the government in reacting to the outcry of the Westbury community not happy with the prison being sited in their town and moving it further away from its original preferred site. What needs to be answered now is does the new, more remote site comply with all or in fact any of the siting principles required for a maximum security prison. It seems they have been totally ignored this time around. Another light bulb moment?