Today's landmark legal action against Crown Casino and poker machine manufacturer Aristocrat in the Federal Court has been welcomed by the Australian Christian Lobby.
"The ACL commends Shonica Guy, a former pokie addict, for taking her case to court in an effort to shine a light on the way poker machines are designed to addict and rigged to make the punter lose," ACL Managing Director Lyle Shelton said.
"Claims by poker machine owners that gamblers can expect reasonable wins are misleading and do not reflect the way the machines are geared in the owner's favour."
A Productivity Commission Report into problem gambling found there are about 500,000 Australians experiencing financial stress, mental illness and relationship breakdown as a result of gambling.
"Australians spend $12 billion a year on poker machines that are designed to addict people into losing their money," Mr Shelton said.
"This is an ethically indefensible business model and would not be tolerated in any other industry. It's time to put simple measures in place that limit the damage caused by poker machines."
Mr Shelton renewed calls by proponents of gambling reform for the Federal Government to introduce a $1 bet limit per spin and also to intervene and stop sports gambling advertising.
"We urge the Turnbull Government to heed community concerns about poker machine harm and work alongside parliamentarians such as Senator Nick Xenaphon, Andrew Wilkie and the Alliance for Gambling Reform to achieve reforms that will stop the damage caused to families and the community," he said.