Cultural Accommodation of Gambling in Australia
Australia promotes gambling as culturally acceptable behavior. The government collects almost $7 billion from the industry.
In Australia, wagering has a long history that dates back to the 18th century. In 1810, at Governor Macquarie’s urging, the first betting event occurred; a horse race. It was in the 1840s that horse racing took off in Australia. At the beginning of the 20th Century, slot machines began to gain popularity.
Australia did not have a physical casino until 1973. The practice began in Tasmania following several years of court battles to legalize it. Around the 1980s, a slew of other casinos sprung up throughout Australia. Some of the earliest casinos are still operating and provide excellent service.
Gambling gains are exempt from taxation in Australia. Virtual gambling has recently experienced a surge in popularity. The widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies as a currency has also aided this development.
The Interactive Gambling Act regulates the internet gambling industry in Australia. It has made internet gaming more popular despite its limitations.
Gamblers have been integral to Australia's social fabric for hundreds of years. The current process of legalizing and the highly controlled gaming we see today is relatively recent developments. Australia embraced internet gambling quickly because of its relatively well-off and technologically knowledgeable populace.