We all know the odds on any form of gambling aren’t good. But, odds aside, whether an addict wins or loses, the urge to go back and bet a few more dollars - or hundred dollars - does not go away.

If they are on a winning streak, they want to continue that streak. If they have been losing, they are “due” for a big win.

Who can’t say that they haven’t felt that thrill from winning money - and the addictive adrenalin rush it brings with it?

There are families around the country being impacted by the actions of those who can’t resist the lure of a gamble.

But gambling addicts are not alone. There are many, many people in Australia who are addicted to alcohol, to drugs, or even to something that might look relatively harmless, like shopping.

Do we enact legislation to curb all these addictions and the many more that are hurting society? And what outlet would those addictions find then?

Even if you are a strong believer in taking the temptation out of people’s hands, you will know it has to be done carefully.

We cannot, for example, ban gambling. We cannot ban alcohol. Prohibition showed just how unsuccessful that experiment could be.

Adults do have the right to make some decisions for themselves.

The federal government is proposing poker machine legislation that will be felt far beyond those who pour their weekly earning into the machines without a thought for tomorrow’s groceries.

If you have popped a few coins in a pokie as you walked past, or gone down with your mum to spend a half hour every six months, this will impact on you.

You will need to register, and really, are you going to be bothered?

For something that will have such an impact on our clubs, it seems to need a rethink.