Some Facts about Slot Machines
The University of Iceland Lottery (Happdrætti Háskóla Íslands, HHÍ) began operating slot machines in
1993. There are 24 play locations in the Reykjavík area. Many of the HHÍ slot machines are connected
together, opposed to the machines of Íslandsspil (which the Red Cross, ICE-SAR and SÁÁ, the chief
addiction society). The stakes are therefore high and the average „gullpottur“ is 9,2 m. kr. ( HHÍ web
page). High stakes are connected with increased addiction risk (J. Gambling Studies 26:1 2010, 159–
174)
A Google search for “slot machine addiction” returns an advertisement from HHÍ at the top.
A 2004 Canadian study indicated that 60% of slot machine income came from gambling addicts
(Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy 4, 2004, 33–45). Indications that the proportion might be
higher in Iceland exist, e.g. in the writings of Ögmundur Jónasson (see below).
The HHÍ slot machines carry high operation costs. The 2014 income was 1550 m. kr. (after paying wins)
and their operation cost 980 m. leaving net returns of ca. 570 m. Corresponding figures for Íslandsspil
were: Income 1260 m., costs 480 m., returns 780 m. (Icel. parliament doc. 911/2014–15). In 2014 the
gross income of UI was 16050 m. so the slot machines accounted for ca. 3.5% (UI annual accounts).
In 2011 a study among 18–70 yr old Icelanders was carried out. Out of 1887 respondents 84 (4.4%) said
that gambling caused them distress and out of those 32 (1.7%) said that slot machines were the
primary culprits, more than those who named other types of gambling (report of Daníel Þór Ólafsson
for the Interior ministry, 2012)
According to the same study 0.7% or almost 2000 people play slot machines at least once a week, 0.8%
were judged to be gambling addicts, and for an additional 1.7% gambling was a serious problem.
Various studies have shown slot machines to be more dangerous than other types of gambling (J.
Gambling Studies 24, 2008, 39–54; Addiction Research and Theory 14, 2006, 475–491).
In a recent Canadian study 25% of 13–19 yr old gambling addicts had tried suicide during the preceding
year, contrasted with 2.2% of non-gambling youngsters (J. Gambling Studies 31:4, 2015, 1121–34).
Several other studies have shown (much) increased suicide rate among gamblers (references in the
Wikipedia article on problem gambling).
If you are not convinced, read a few stories on the blog page fuckgambling.com. Or from the victims of
HHÍ on p. 10–11 in the Icelandic newspaper DV, 14. November 2012 (on timarit.is). Ögmundur
Jónasson former interior minister has written a lot on the issue, e.g. a preface to the earlier mentioned
report of Daníel Þór, and on the web, ogmundur.is (search e.g. for „spilafíkn“). Some of his articles
carry very sad stories of Icelandic gamblers.
But: In Norway the operation of slot machines was limited significantly by a new law in 2007, and
according to at least one study the problem moved to internet gambling and possibly became worse (J.
Gambling Studies 29, 2013, 37–50).
Gambling in Las Vegas
“Gold mine” locations (HHÍ home page)