Pokies change people - expert

A gambler can get so caught up and driven by the rush from a win on a pokie machine their priorities completely change, a gambling counsellor says.

Sandi Cummings, from the Problem Gambling Foundation, told the Taranaki Daily News pokie machines were originally designed to be addictive.

She was commenting on a Hawera court case yesterday where a woman admitted stealing nearly $100,000 from her employers to spend on pokies.

"Pokies can be dangerous. People that are gambling, their families can be the most important thing, but their urge to gamble becomes stronger."

The brain chemistry and the stimulus from the pokie machines can connect and the brain's reward pathway is triggered, she said.

The rushes of excitement a gambler gets can override what used to be important to them in their lives, Ms Cummings said.

There was a high link between the desperation and loss of control from gambling and relationship breakdowns, domestic violence and suicide attempts, she said.

And the problem is hidden so it can escalate before people around them notice.

"People can be gambling in their lunch break. It's not like drinking or drugs, it's not on their breath or in their eyes."

Ms Cummings said research showed one problem gambler affected the lives of between seven and 17 people.

It is estimated that between 10,000 and 60,000 New Zealanders could be problem gamblers and thousands have committed crime because of their addiction."It's the ripple effect. Their family is affected, the business family, the potential job losses from the money lost."

Anyone who was regularly gambling was vulnerable to addiction, she said.

"It's anybody. We all have that pleasure pathway. Be wary, be careful."

- © Fairfax NZ News