Las Vegas is undoubtedly notorious for gambling, but the most fanatical gamblers of our age come from down under. Although Australia hardly comes to mind as ‘gambling central’, in the 1980s Australia deregulated its gambling industry, and it shows. According to consultancy company H2 Gambling Capital, betting losses per resident adult in Australia added up to almost $1000 last year. To put this in perspective that is 40% higher than the runner-up Singapore, and around double the average in other Western countries. The most popular form of gambling in Australia is poker machines, known locally as ‘the pokies’. You can find these machines in casinos, pubs, and hotels. They are everywhere. The pokies are legal in many other markets, but the difference is that bet sizes are usually capped at reasonably low amounts. In Australia, however, you can look forward to losing up to $1,100 an hour.
Although pokie machines are by far the most popular form of gambling we are seeing a change in the way in which the world gambles. It is dangerously becoming much more convenient and accessible for people to gamble, in fact, now they can do it from the comfort of their own home. Online gambling has been growing rapidly in the last decade and predictions show this growth rate will only continue. The addictive pastime is at the fingertips of its victims and only a click away.
Although Australia is highly profitable for the gambling industry, the market is relatively mature and given the small population there is not much room for growth. The United States is by far the world’s biggest market for betting losses, last year they totalled $117 billion. But spending per person has remained constant over the last ten years partly due to the conservative culture of a large portion of the population and to the fact that the industry is regulated. It is possible that the accessibility of online gambling will drive more people to participate.
Not only is the way we gamble changing, but also who is gambling. Statistics show that in 2011 only 7.2% of the gambling population of Australia was female, however in only 4 years this number has grown significantly to 35% in 2015. More and more women are involved in the culture of gambling.
So, the perception of the gambling industry as having bright lights, glamorous show girls and extravagant high rollers seems to be taking a dramatic turn to simply women, sitting at home, mindlessly losing money on their computers.
