Hi, my name is Ricky Browne
I’m a former problem gambler. I put entire paycheques through the pokies believing I could come out ahead—until I looked up probability in Microsoft Encarta. It included an interactive dice chart, similar to the one on this site, and from that point I realised that randomness isn’t so random when it comes to large numbers.
I made the connection to poker machines and realised I couldn’t win. Over time, any wins would be clawed back the more I pressed.
I always wanted to build a poker machine simulator that would simulate a lifetime of presses and demonstrate how unlikely it is to come out ahead. With the help of AI, I now have a rudimentary working prototype on this website.
I’ve tried to make it as helpful as possible for people who still believe they can win big on the pokies.
I’m looking for organisations and mathematicians to validate the idea, and perhaps help fund a better version that could be promoted more widely. I want problem gamblers to understand the maths—and understand that playing the pokies will cost them money, time and, possibly, relationships in the long run.