Australia is considered to be the most gambling country in the world for a reason – every Australian annually spends $1300 on gambling. At the same time budgets of some states are formed on average by 10% from gambling revenues. And this is not the limit.
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The Australian landscape
It is commonly believed that Australians are the most gambling nation in the world. Residents of Australia spend on gambling up to $1300 per citizen annually, these figures are the highest in the world. It should also be noted that Australia has the highest concentration of slot machines.
At the moment there are more than a dozen casinos in the state. The gambling preferences of Australians are not homogeneous and present a rather motley picture of fans of online sports betting, poker, casinos, or slot machines.
Tradition and habit plus legal elements have led to differences in the popularity of certain gambling offerings.
The birth of gambling in Australia. Chronology
The first recorded event related to the birth of gambling in Australia dates back to 1810. It was a horse racing meet held at Hyde Park in Sydney.
The first lottery was organized in 1880, and the first slot machines appeared in clubs and pubs in the 1950s. It is the moment that can be considered a starting point in the history of Australian gambling.
The love of sports betting on horse races was instilled in Australians by the British. Although it is not possible to give an exact date, it is safe to say that as long as there will be sports in Australia, there will be bets.
If you compare online gambling with casinos and bookmaking, it is worth noting that this pastime is relatively new, but the favorite for the inhabitants of the green continent.
The emergence of the first gambling website revolutionized the industry. The first online casino was created in the 90s and has not lost its popularity since then.
The most popular gambling entertainment in Australia
Land-based casinos in Australia tend to play roulette, card games – blackjack or baccarat. The same games are preferred by clients of online casinos. Craps have a separate place among Australian gambling preferences. In addition, there are also poker, lotteries, and sports betting, which occupy the 5th, 6th and 7th places, respectively.
Interesting:
Microgaming, which was founded back in 1994 and became the first company to offer gambling services in Australia, still exists today. During its operation, it has played an important role in the development of technologies required for financial systems that process player transactions. Apart from traditional gambling entertainment, the Australians have also come up with some outlandish ones. For example, games such as crabbing, camel racing, or guinea pigs are popular. However, despite the love of citizens, such “competitions” have remained outside the law.
Australian Eagles are Australia’s national gambling game, which requires only two coins. The point of the game is to guess which side each of the coins will fall. There is even a special day on April 25th for gambling in pubs and clubs around the country.
Top 5 land-based casinos in Australia:
- Adelaide Casino – South Australia’s premier entertainment destination located in Adelaide’s historic Railway Station building.
- Casino Canberra – is a casino located in the Central Business District of Canberra.
- Country Club Casino – a casino in Launceston, Tasmania, owned by Federal Hotels. It is Tasmania’s second casino.
- Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex – a casino and resort located on the south bank of the Yarra River.
- Crown Perth – a resort and casino located in Burswood, Western Australia, near the Swan River.
If you want to know more about online casinos in Australia, we suggest you visit online-casinoAU.com. Online-casinoAU.com is a re-looking site that offers its visitors comprehensive reviews of the largest casinos in Australia. If you are a fan of pokies, this site is definitely for you!
How much does gambling contribute to the treasury?
Government revenue from gambling in Australia varies from state to state, but the average is 10% of the budget. In the treasury of Victoria, where gambling is most popular, gambling brings an annual profit of 13%. In contrast, gambling deductions are only 4% of revenue in Western Australia. This is due to the fact that many types of gambling are still banned here. Winnings of players are not taxed in Australia.
Gambling operators have to follow the legislation of each particular state, as taxation there is different. Also, tax rates for different types of gambling vary. Gambling operators pay fees when obtaining a license, as well as tax on turnover, player’s loss, and net profit.
Operators’ income
The Stars Group (Crown Bet and William Hill Australia’s Austrian business groups) reported a Q2 adjusted profit of $13.5 million and a gross profit of $46.8 million.
Also, according to research firm IBISWorld, gambling profits in Australia will exceed $6 billion by 2020.
