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 incomes. And this is not the limit.
By the end of 2020 the estimated revenues of Australian gambling operators could exceed $6 billion.
Australian landscape
It is commonly believed that Australians are the most gambling nation in the world. Residents of Australia spend up to $1300 per citizen annually on gambling, 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 in the state there are more than a dozen casinos. 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 that took place 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 the starting point in the history of Australian gambling.
The love to sports betting on horse races was instilled to Australians by the British. Although it is not possible to give an exact date, but it is safe to say that as long as there will be sports, in Australia, will bet.
If you compare online gambling with casinos and bookmaking, it is worth noting that this pastime is relatively new, but the most 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 has 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 activities, the Australians have also come up with some outlandish ones. For example, games such as crab races, camel races or guinea pig races are popular. However, despite the love of citizens, such "competitions" have remained outside the law.
Australian Eagles is the national Australian game of chance, which requires only two coins. The point of the game is to guess which side each of the coins will fall. There's even a special day to get your fill of Australian Gambling in pubs and clubs around the country - April 25th.
Australia's top 5 land-based casinos:
1. Adelaide Casino.
2. Casino Canberra.
3. Country Club Casino.
4. Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex.
5. Crown Perth.
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 Victoria, where gambling is most popular, the state treasury gambling industry 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 loss and net profit.