Close-Up: Australia's love for the 'pokies'

In an ongoing series, BBC News focuses on aspects of life in countries and cities around the world.

"Pokies" are an extremely common sight in Australia - poker or slot machines that appear everywhere from small country pubs to large casinos.

Using video displays instead of the moving reels more familiar to players of British fruit machines, the pokies generate a huge amount of revenue. For every dollar spent at the racetrack in Australia, five are spent on the pokies.

The BBC's Nick Bryant went along to try his luck - and spoke to Sydney pokie players John Muir and Graeme Rose.