A 21-year-old man is in custody after setting 40 pokie machines on fire at The Royal Hotel in the Brisbane suburb of Beenleigh.
According to police, the man left the hotel early on Wednesday night, but returned at around 8:40pm with a container of petrol which he used to set all of the pokies in the gaming room ablaze.
Three machines were completely destroyed, and another 37 have been damaged beyond repair.
The man has been charged with endangering particular property by fire. He is being held in custody “for his own protection“, say police, who also allege that he had threatened to harm himself and others.
No word from police on the ongoing threats to mental health posed by the proliferation of poker machines in our public bars, though, despite it being well known that they prey on the most vulnerable members of society (and despite people genuinely wanting them to piss off out of their lives). No commentary, either, on whether someone taking that Whitlams song seriously might actually be a fair response to the insidious spread of those coruscating portals of despair.
If you’re struggling with gambling addiction or depression, please get in contact with one of the below services, and look after yourself.
Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858
Lifeline 13 11 14
MensLine Australia 1300 789 978
Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36
Source: ABC.
Image: Getty.
