It is a well-known fact that the Australian general public has a special affinity for gambling. This does not mean that every Australian is a gambler or that the people from Downunder are addicted to gambling. It does mean that the Ozzies occasionally visit new Australian online casinos.
However, it is crystal clear that the Aussies are ready to bet and put their money on about anything. Some of the most common betting avenues they bet on include – the lotto, scratch tickets, pokies, sports betting, especially on horse racing and Australian Rules Football, casino gaming, online poker tournaments, and offline Poker tournaments.
Which games do Australians like the most
One may ponder why are Australians so keen to use and chance their money on betting. Is it because they want to get rich as quickly as possible? Is it because it is an easy way to get some cash? Some people view the Aussies as a nation addicted to gambling, but, in all fairness, it is more like having a flirt and hoping to get at least something out of it.
The average Australian spends approximately $1,200 per year on gambling, whether horse racing, lotto, casino games, football, or cricket. On the other hand, Americans spend around $400 per annum on gambling, and the Irish spend about $600.
Australians like pokies, lotto, scratch-it tickets, and casino gaming, and they are eager to bet on sports. Horseracing takes up a large portion of sports betting, and the graph goes straight up when the Melbourne Cup is held. Other sports include cricket, which is popular in Australia, rugby league, union, Australian Football League, and soccer.
One of the main reasons why Australians gamble so much on sports is that they just like sports. Aussies are known for their love of sports. Most of Australia’s national heroes are sports stars or track heroes like the famous Phar Lap and Winx.
Nationwide, Australians spend about $116 billion annually on poker machines, $626 million on sports betting, $1.9 billion on lotteries, and $3 billion on horse racing. Per capita, these are severe figures compared to more densely populated countries like the United States of America.
The history of gambling in Australia
Australians have a history of gambling. The early colonial days saw a high rate of gambling. Due to the country’s harsh conditions: forced migration from England, and the challenges emigrants had to face, such as adaptation to a new continent very far away from their homeland, gambling was probably one of the options to pass the time and serve as a form of escapism. They entrenched the concept of gambling as a form of entertainment rather than to make money. That is probably why the Aussies are keen to bet on sports activities.
The introduction of games like cricket, rugby, and soccer by Australia’s former colonial power helped Australians practice new games but also furnished a window of opportunity to bet on additional and different sports. The introduction of the Australian Rule game and swimming added to the list of sports and hence more betting options.
Historically, Australia has always been a country of immigration. Due to the vastness of the continent and the need to import labor to build and sustain the Australian economy, migrants fled to Australia in search of new pastures and a better life for themselves and their families.
The first migrants came from England, followed by migrants from Italy, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, Germany, and the Balkan countries. Initially, they found it extremely difficult to integrate into the Saxon culture and way of life. Multiculturalism helped to ease the integration process, but many of them viewed participating in gambling as an excellent tool to integrate themselves and better understand the Australian way of life.
Gambling is Australians’ part of daily life
Australians have much better access to gambling facilities than any other country. Pokies machines are the most popular, and most problem gamblers trace their affinity to the pokies to their teenage years. Unfortunately, for gamblers and betting addicts, the pokies machines provide an exciting experience and help to suppress anxiety, thus making people vulnerable to gambling. Today, free pokies are readily available to the public, and they are available in hotels, registered clubs, pubs, and casinos.
In addition, the advent of the internet and the introduction of online gambling added another element that allowed the average Australian to have easy access to betting sites and accelerated the country’s betting habit.
The legal aspect of gambling
The legal aspect of gambling is crucial to why Australians gamble so much. In some countries, the legality of gambling is a topic of discussion. In contrast, in Australia, gambling activities are heavily promoted, contributing to Australians’ ardent gamblers.
The Australian government has set regulations for gaming and, in a way, promotes the gambling culture/industry. The benefit derived from the gambling industry amounts to almost $4 billion each year, and more than 50% of the revenue the government collects come from the pokies. In general, the Australian regulation on gambling is very relaxed, with states like New South Wales capping some video poker machines at 99,000. The flexible regulation is another reason Australia has a 20% share of the global poker machines, and gambling is so massive.
The gambling regulation in Australia differs from state to state rather than having one standard rule issued by the Federal Government. The state-by-state gambling regulation creates inconsistencies and loopholes that enable the gambling industry to ship around from where to operate and maximize the number of customers and profits. For example, it is common in most Australian states to locate gambling machines in pubs and hotels rather than strictly in casinos. Only the state of Western Australia imposes certain restrictions on pokies outside casinos.
In essence, the gambling industry produces a massive revenue for both the State and Federal Governments. It also provides job opportunities and specialized skills and talents to which the Australian educational system has to cater. This means that Australians are getting much more highly educated, making the country more competitive in the global commercial sphere.
Cons of gambling
Flipping the coin, one will realize that although the gambling industry is generating revenue, employment and wealth, there is a sinister side to the situation. For instance, most bettors lose more money than they win. Gambling creates social issues, and families and relationships run the risk of failing; It can also cause mental health issues which sometimes can lead to suicide and directly impact the productivity of the country negatively.
Whilst gambling is very much disliked and occasionally seen as a disease in some countries, in Australia, most Aussie gamblers see it as a means of entertainment coupled with the possibility of earning some extra cash.
