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It may surprise a lot of people to know that of all the betting people in all the countries of the world, as gamblers, the Australians are deemed to be the biggest of them all. Let’s take a look at some of the reason why that appears to be the case.

“The Lucky Country” is how many Australians refer to their homeland and this gives an insight into the mindset of the people who believe that they live in the luckiest country in the world. Not surprising really, when you consider that a land mass which ranks as the fifth largest in the world (Europe and Asia share the same land mass, while North and South America are divided by the Panama Canal) is also the most seismically stable. With no volcanoes or earthquakes to worry about, while countries all around have them in abundance, the Australians can turn their attentions to other pursuits. Gambling happens to be one of them!

Gambling has always been a major feature of Australian culture, dating right back to the earliest colonial settlers combined with a hefty population of convicts transported there from Britain, Ireland and other European countries. These days, many Australians like to be known as the first to bet on the outcome of just about anything from which of two flies on a wall will fly away first, to cricket matches, horse racing and other sporting events as well as card games, pub board games and even elections results. It also includes other games of chance such as those found in casinos.

Of all the many forms of gambling that are available, by far the biggest attraction are the various types of electronic gambling machines, or “pokies” as they’re commonly known. These include all forms of slot machines, video slots and video poker games and you only have to walk into any casino to be met by row upon row of them being fed coins in an attempt to satisfy their voracious appetites by players trying to get them to regurgitate more of those coins than they are devouring.

Gambling in Australia is also seen as a popular avenue for social interaction, as most gambling establishments also include sports facilities, nightclubs, bars and restaurants where people can meet and relax in a social atmosphere.

The growth of gambling amongst Australians is continuing to climb despite the world’s economic crisis. This has led to fears about the various problems associated with gambling and the potential for social and family distress it can cause. To give you an idea of the scale of gambling in Australia, here are some pertinent facts about the industry there.

• At the turn of the century, Australian gamblers lost a staggering $13.3 billion. This works out to $931 for every person in the country

• While having below 1% of the world’s total population, Australia has 20% of all the electronic gambling machines in the world

• Australian gamblers spend on average 3.5% of their disposable income per household. With an average income of $700 per week, this equates to $25 a week

• While the average gambler in Australia loses around $625 per year, those with problems can lose around $12,000 per year on average

• Approximately 82% of Australian adults gamble, with 40% gambling once a week at least. This is the highest rate worldwide

What has probably had a major positive impact on gambling amongst Australians is the fact that their government has promoted rather than restricting gambling, as in the case of many other Western countries. This stance on promotion rather than restriction is mainly due to the necessity for revenue by state and territorial governments, which together netted the central government in excess of $700 million from legal gambling in 2002.

In Australia, there are fewer legislators backed up by zealous citizens who are intent on abolishing gambling and its perceived evils as there are in other countries. However, recent studies have found around two million Australians are affected by the impact both socially and financially of problem gambling.

All this weight of evidence reveals most of the reasons why Australians gamble so much more than anyone else in the world. Their good nature and sense of humour combine with the dream of attracting the big win and celebrating with a style that befits the larger than life illusion that it portrays. It is quite obvious that gambling is not seen so much as a problem, but more a way of life that keeps both the people’s right to freedom of choice alive and the nation’s coffers full with the revenue that it generates.