INTRODUCTION

Gambling has gained immense popularity in the past decade. More than 30 states now own electronic gaming machines which have increased opportunities for gamers. Gambling EGMs are comparatively easier to play and also allure novice gamers. In some jurisdictions, EGMs are permissible, while in others they are not. Now, in this era, they can easily be found in bars, hotels, restaurants and other convenience stores. Online casino sites are also a type of electronic gambling.

As the name suggests, gambling in an electronic form is known as electronic gambling. The most popular forms of electronic gambling are slot machines, video pokers, video lottery machines (VLTs) and other electronic gaming machines (EGMs). A variety of games is offered by slot machines and other EGMs which one usually finds at casinos, local bars, corner stores, race tracks, cruise boats etc. The three main types of electronic gaming machines which are not as costly as roulette or black jack games are:-

1. Slot Machines

2. Video Slots

3. Video Poker

Let us give you a brief note on the usage of these machines:-

SLOT MACHINES

Slot machines are a highly popular form of EGM and usually the turnover it produces is in billions of dollars. It was first introduced in San Francisco by Charles Fey.

When 3 reels are randomly put into motion by the computer it reminds us of slot machines. Computer generates the reels of the machines. Ideally, when the three of the reels stop and the signs on the reels are identical to each other the player is declared the winner for the game. In other cases also, some prizes are there for the gamer to take for instance one diamond or two cherries which depend on the combination which has been set in the machine. The most common symbols in the slot machines are of lemons, cherries, diamonds, lucky sevens etc. The amount the player wins and his balance is displayed on the LED screen which is a matrix of tiny red colored dots. If the amount won by the player is higher than the amount the machine can give at the moment, then the player is usually paid by cheque.

Video slots improve the game quality in terms of satisfaction to the customer and secondly, it also offers the gamer a new game which is even simpler to operate than regular slot machines.

VIDEO POKER:-

This is entirely different in comparison to slots and its basis is five cards draw. In this game the machine is treated as the opponent of the gamer. The bet for winning is a certain combination of cards which may include three to 4 cards of one kind, say triple nines or four sevens or if all the cards have the same sign, it can be regarded as the criterion for winning. By pressing the deal button the player selects the cards and goes for the game against the computer. This is a game which is entirely based on skills and knowledge. One is also given a chance to select his own cards which definitely requires proficiency at the game.

Advantage of video poker is that it is not a one sided game, as it is with video slots. It involves the proficiency, skills and the knowledge of the gamer as well.

VIDEO LOTTERY MACHINES OR VIDEO LOTTERY TERMINALS

The abbreviation for this is VLTs. People often mix it up with video pokers or slot machines. The basic difference among them is that the results of a VLT are often declared by central determination systems. VLT not only means video poker or slot machines but it also covers games like black jack and keno. VLT is a far wider concept than video pokers and slot machines.

ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRONIC GAMBLING

1) The EGMs in clubs and hotels provide numerous job opportunities to the natives which contribute to some percentage of the employment of the nation.

2) It acts as another economic activity that helps in the development of the region.

3) It contributes towards tax revenues.

4) It is highly profitable for the hotels, malls, pubs, bars, and other and gaming operators.

5) It improves the social and entertainment facilities of the region.

Even though these machines have a number of benefits still a question arises as to whether these machines make the gamer an addict.

When the problems of gambling are considered and gone through, it reveals that EGMs have nowadays become highly addictive. Slot machines amongst them have the highest number of addicts which is nearly 37%.

The Gaming Machine Control Act permitted electronic gaming machines in Victoria which was announced publicly in 1991, with the commencement of the same in 1992, the upcoming period of 9 years gave it a boost and the number of gaming machines in Victoria rose to 30000 and in the case of greater Dandenong the number was something like 1184 in 2000. All these gave a bang to Victoria as it suffered losses of something around $110 million dollars by June 2007. The EGMs have suffered a really good amount of devastating upshot which in return might result in collapse of the economy.

Most devastating effects seen in Dadneong and Victorian economies are:-

In all of 16 venues all through Dandenong, the losses counted were $110million in the year 2006-2007 which in other words imply $ 1093 for each adult in the city.

And the next in the queue was Victoria. Boroondara is considered to be the most affluent locality of Victoria which comprised a loss of $151 per adult of the society.

CAUTION FOR GAMBLERS BEFORE USING EGMs

The gambler must pay attention to the fact that playing on the EGMs is not a way of making money, as the result solely depends upon the chip which has been installed in the machine. The result is not merely the skill of the gamer. The work of the installed chip is to make sure the gambling establishment earns enough profits. You must be thinking of those players who stood victorious at their games, yes, such players are there, people do win but just about everyone loses in the long run.