A Mildura church minister says he is worried about the social fallout if a casino is built in Mildura.
There are proposals to build a casino on the city’s riverfront, as part of a complex that would also include a convention centre, hotel and entertainment complex.
But the Anglican Church’s Dale Barclay says while development would be good, he is worried by United States research that shows bankruptcies in casino cities increase 20 per cent and the suicide rates are higher.
He says the social ramifications of excessive gambling should be a consideration.
“Not being able to pay bills, care for their family, buy food, those sort of things and that obviously has consequences, leading to family breakdown and probably community breakdown as well,” he said.
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FIRST Crown Casino almost doubled its chances of winning on roulette by adding an extra house number to some wheels.
Now casino chiefs have tinkered with the blackjack rules to disadvantage punters who manage to draw the card game’s best hand.
The new rules – ticked off by the government-appointed casino watchdog – effectively mean a player who hits blackjack with a $10 bet will now collect just $22 instead of the previous $25.
The changes apply only to the $5 and $10 tables on the public gaming floor – which just happen to be the ones favoured by inexperienced punters enjoying an occasional flutter.
Casino bosses know if they tried such a move on the mega-rich “high rollers”, they’d walk straight out the door with their fat wallets.
Instead the casino has chosen – yet again – to pump up profits at the expense of inexperienced gamblers who have no idea how badly the odds are stacked against them.
Crown has previously introduced automatic shuffle machines and imposed special rules on dealers to make winning on blackjack at the Southbank complex difficult.
The latest rule changes were quietly introduced just in time for the Melbourne Cup carnival crowds and in the same week casino boss James Packer boldly declared the vast gambling house a vital national asset.
The revelations of the greedy money grab also come as the casino’s owners prepare to cash in on a controversial deal with the Brumby Government to add an extra 150 blackjack, roulette and poker tables.
Quietly fiddling with the blackjack rules to tilt the odds in favour of the house is hardly the way to reassure a wary public that an expanded casino won’t bleed even more money from our community.
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SMALL punters are being treated like mugs by Crown casino, gaming experts say.
Crown has reduced the blackjack payout on $5 to $10 tables on the public gaming floor. But the payout odds remain the same in the high-roller rooms.
Experts say the move will pour millions of dollars a year into the casino’s coffers at the expense of battling punters.
“If you’re not a professional gambler you might as well hand in your wallet at the reception desk when you arrive,” said Ron Parsons, owner of the CasinoBusters.com teaching school.
As of last week, gamblers hitting “blackjack” – an Ace with a 10-point card – are paid the odds of 6-5 instead of the traditional 3-2 (6-4).
The rule change means a punter who hits blackjack with a $100 bet wins another $120 instead of the usual $150.
Last year, Crown almost doubled its chances of winning on the roulette wheels by adding an extra house number.
Mr Parsons said along with the recent introduction of automatic shuffle machines, winning on blackjack at Crown was now almost impossible.
Another rule imposed at Crown requires blackjack dealers to “hit” on “soft 17″, meaning the house gets a final chance to win instead of paying out players holding cards valued at 18-21.
“None of these measures apply in the VIP high-roller rooms because they would never get away with it,” Mr Parsons said.
“The Asian high-rollers would head home in their droves. Its all designed to rip off the inexperienced player.”
But Crown spokesman Gary ONeill said the latest rule change had been approved by the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation.
“They have given approval for the game to proceed and the odds are clearly displayed on the tables,” Mr O’Neill said.
Crown is also set to cash in on a controversial deal with the Brumby Government that will see it handed an extra 150 blackjack, roulette and baccarat tables.
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