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Gambling has long been a part of Australian life. From the old days on the goldfields to today’s pubs and clubs, betting has been seen as something normal, even something to be proud of. But have we ever stopped to ask: do Australians love to gamble? Or is it just something we’re told again and again?
Gambling and the Aussie Identity
For many years, the image of an “Aussie gambler” has been common. Whether it’s playing two-up on Anzac Day, placing a bet on the Melbourne Cup, or cheering at the races, gambling seems tightly tied to national pride. But recent research shows that while many people join in on events like the Cup, they don’t actually gamble very often.
A small workplace study found that about 39% of people only gamble during the Melbourne Cup sweepstakes. Even fewer saw themselves as “regular gamblers.” Yet, many said that Cup Day helped bring their workplace together and made them feel more “Australian.” This shows that sometimes the idea of gambling as a national habit is more about social bonding than actual betting.
Gambling Laws and How They’ve Changed
Australia’s gambling scene has changed a lot. In the past, gambling was very limited and strictly controlled. But things shifted in the 1990s and early 2000s. Pokies (slot machines) started appearing in almost every pub and club. This was part of a larger global trend where rules were loosened to let markets grow faster. This process is known as neo-liberalism.
Now, the government and industry are facing pushback. Many people believe gambling needs to be controlled again, especially pokies, which can cause people to lose money very quickly. Some call these changes a return to the “Nanny State,” where the government steps in to protect people from harm.
Understanding “Problem Gambling”
In the 1980s, the term “pathological gambling” became official in the United States. Since then, most governments, including Australia’s, have used the idea of a “problem gambler”someone ”who cannot control their gambling as a way to keep the industry running. This makes it easy for gambling businesses and state governments (which earn money from gambling taxes) to say: “It’s not the machines, it’s just a few troubled people.”
But in 2010, a major report from Australia’s Productivity Commission said that modern pokies are designed in ways that make addiction more likely. They allow fast, non-stop betting that can lead to big losses in a short time.
Proposed reforms suggest stronger rules for all players, not just for “problem gamblers.” But some venues have responded with campaigns like “ItsUnAustralian.com.au” that say these rules go too far and treat everyone like addicts.
Pokies Changed the Culture
Pokies didn’t just change how people gamble they also changed Australia’s social life. Many believe that when pokies took over pubs, they pushed out things like live music and local bands. Musicians like Tim Freedman from The Whitlams have even written songs about this. Freedman believes pokies helped kill the pub music scene that once produced Aussie legends like Cold Chisel and Midnight Oil.
Poker and the Online Boom
In 2005, Joe Hachem became a national hero by winning the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. Suddenly, poker nights became popular across Australia. TV shows like The Poker Star made poker look less like a game and more like a way of life.
Today, the average Aussie gambler might not be at a racetrack or pokie lounge they’re just as likely to be sitting at home, playing poker online against people from around the world. For some, it’s a dream career; for others, it’s a hobby. But either way, it shows how gambling has moved into digital spaces.
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