How much have you won gambling at pokies

 It's the game many Papua New Guineans spend time and money on.

Regulated by the National Gaming and Control Board (NGCB) it's been in the country since the 1990s.

Only few provinces, this gambling is not set up. When it was first introduced it's minimum bet was lower at less than K20 but it has since risen to K100.

State of Origin, like the one pictured above, and other firms of machines were the first ones introduced.

But recently free games machines were introduced and they have become popular. You can fetch around 10000 credits for a K100 bet and gamble with it to win a maximum of K20,000.

See that kind of machine below.

Here's some facts you need to appreciate and ensure you gamble responsibly.

1. Do not go to gamble if that's the only money you have to put food on your table or meet other essential miscellaneous costs. Just don't.

2. Gambling is about probabilities and the higher you bet, the likely chance you get of having high scoring images appear increasing your winning margin. The lower you bet the less likely they appear and you're only depositing to the machine.

3. Do not stick to the same machine hoping for long that it will pay you back. That's false. If you're not seeing any high paying images show regularly, change your bet or just move to another machine.

4. If a machine pays you big. Don't continue betting and gambling there. The chances of it paying you again is very minimal. Get your money and move to another machine or better leave the pokies parlour setting.

5. This point is very important. Many people become addicted to gambling because of an illusion that they will win big and can be rich. It's the imagination. Don't get into that trap. See pokies as a social activity for you and depending on your earnings, budget for a low as K100 or maximum K300 to gamble. If it does not pay. Let go. Don't dig into your other monies to gamble. Be financially disciplined and calculate your spendings that the machines don't rip you off. You are better than the machine.

6. Finale note the above points are not professional advice and you are encouraged to seek further advice from authorized bodies or individuals. Unfortunately Papua New Guinea does not have counselling services on gambling. Be responsible. If you feel you're gambling behaviour is getting out of hand, reach out for help quickly before it's too late.