One-armed bandits

I know no-one wants to turn back the clock, so there is no hope of going back to coin-only poker machines. It is now too easy to put notes up to $100 in the note accepter, then when it is lost, players go to the ATM in the club to withdraw more.

Before the introduction of note acceptors, players had to get coins from the cashbox, manned by the club's staff (who are now out of a job), then as back again for a payout. Players worried that everyone knew their business and how much they won and lost.

Playing the machines now is anonymous. Machines dispense notes and payout slips. You can visit a club, play the machines and not have to come into contact with anyone.

I play the poker machines and know how the game has changed. I was involved in the club industry for nearly 20 years and it makes me sad to see how it is now.

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