Australians and Gambling – The Facts
The following information is sourced from ProblemGambling.gov.au/facts
GAMBLING IN AUSTRALIA
For most people, gambling is a form of entertainment that is enjoyed responsibly and for the majority of us it is something we like to do occasionally in many forms, from a flutter on the Melbourne Cup to purchasing Lottery Tickets and of course the once in a blue moon trip to the local Casino to experience all the hype the industry has to offer. In fact this way of life for Aussies is so widely acceptable that in 2009 over 70% of Australians participated in some form of gambling. That alone isn’t a concerning figure – I mean everyone throws a few bucks into a mystery quinella at Flemington in November and I know we all queue up for Powerball when it exceeds $20 Million in prize money. What is concerning however is the sheer amount of money that we as Australians spent on Gambling in that time.What do you think we managed to gamble away during the course of 2008 and 2009. 100 million? a Billion?! – 10 billion?!?! – Try 19 Billion Australian dollars! The scariest part of this figure is the fact that 12 Billion of that went directly into pokies and slot machines across the country. That’s $12,000,000,000.00 which is a LOT of 20c Bets – and quite frankly it’s enough to make us sick.
“Australians spent more than $19 billion on gambling in 2008-09; around $12 billion of which was spent playing the pokies.”
We’ve Improved as a Nation Since!
I am pleased to report that although Australians are still putting more money through the pokies per capita than any other nation we are cutting our overall spend down, with 2014 reports revealing slightly less total expenditure going through pokies and gambling as a whole:
Poker machines accounted for 60% ($9.8 billion) of the $16.3 billion spent by Australians on gambling in the 12 months to March 2014, well ahead of race betting and lotteries according to the latest results from the Roy Morgan Gambling Monitor.(click image below to view original article and source)
PROBLEM GAMBLING
Here’s the cold hard facts. Even sugarcoating it wouldn’t hide the alarming numbers being shared here.
- Up to 500,000 Australians are at risk of becoming, or are, problem gamblers.
- The social cost to the community of problem gambling is estimated to be at least $4.7 billion a year.
- The actions of one problem gambler negatively impacts the lives of between five and 10 others.
- Only around 15 per cent of problem gamblers seek help.
Let’s make that 16 – CALL NOW!
PROBLEM GAMBLERS AND POKER MACHINES
As the stats above scream out, Pokies and slot machines are the main source of the problem and account for almost 75% of the problem gambling in this country. Let’s see how harsh these facts are:
- One in six people who play the pokies regularly has a serious addiction.
- Problem gamblers lose around $21,000 each year. That's one third of the average Australian salary.
- Some poker machines can be played at extremely high intensity – a gambler could lose more than $1,500 in just one hour.
- Young people (18-24 year olds) spend more on poker machines than any other age group.
- Many adult problem gamblers report having developed gambling problems during their teenage years (source: Delfabbro, P, Gambling Research Australia, A review of Australian Gambling Research, August 2008, p61).
- Three-quarters of problem gamblers have problems with poker machines. It's even higher for women – in 9 out of 10 cases poker machines are identified as the cause of problems for women (source: Delfabbro, P, August 2008, p67).
IMPACT OF PROBLEM GAMBLING
Data from H2 Gambling Capital, a London based industry researcher, obtained by Fairfax Media last month, shows that Australians lose more money per adult on gambling than every other developed country.
Back in 2010, the Productivity Commission actually estimated the average loss for each Australian that gambled at $1,500. For what its worth, that review found there was an overall net benefit (through taxes and enjoyment) to the economy from gambling of between $3.7 billion and $11.1 billion), but the costs to problem gamblers were substantial and devastating, ranging from $4.7 billion to $8.4 billion That aside, what is clear is that Australians are leading the developed world on gambling losses. (see chart below)
The more direct and measurable impact on individuals however has a much greater impact:
- The actions of one problem gambler negatively impacts the lives of between five and 10 others.
- Problem gamblers are six times more likely to be divorced than non problem gamblers (source: Thomas, S, and Jackson, A, Report to beyondblue, Risk and Protective Factors: Depression and comorbidities in problem gambling, 2008).
- Problem gamblers are four times more likely to have problems with alcohol and four times as likely to smoke daily than non problem gamblers (source: Thomas, S, and Jackson, A, 2008).
- Children with parents who are problem gamblers are up to 10 times more likely to become problem gamblers themselves than children with non gambling parents (source: The Problem Gambling Treatment and Research Centre, Children at risk of developing problem gambling, May 2010).
See Original Article and Source Credit at Sydney Morning Herald Here -> Australia's Gambling Obsession
So Now For the Important Question…
Can Australians Play Online Casinos and Pokies?
I only ask because I read somewhere that Aussies aren’t legally allowed to play online casinos for real money?!
Simple answer is YES IT IS TOTALLY LEGAL. RED or BLACK? 😉 but the lawyers will have my head if I leave it at that so allow me to provide a little more details and explain exactly what legal territory we exist in and whether we’ll get a visit from the local constabulary if we log on and start playing some online casino games. So here’s the official (read: boring) answer.
It is illegal for operators to offer online gambling services from within the jurisdiction of Australia. This means that online casinos cannot operate legally from within Australian territory.
However, it is not illegal for Australian players to place wagers at online casinos that are situated outside of Australia. It goes without saying then that Australians are perfectly within their legal rights to gamble and play pokies and slots online to their hearts content so long as the Online Casino is not located within Australia – and since there are no online casinos currently operating within this great southern land it is fair to say that Yes, Australians everywhere are legally protected and are well within their rights to access one of the more reputable online casinos and enjoy a flutter on the pokies or a spin on the blackjack whenever they feel like it.
in a nutshell – YES! Aussies Can Gamble Online and it is completely LEGAL
The Best Online Casinos for Australians
There are a huge number of internationally licensed online casinos for Australians to enjoy and we have reviewed a heap of them to bring you the top 2 Casinos that we still frequent and enjoy playing online games at. Our staff of experienced reviewers were given the task of going through a huge list of active online casinos and told to give you the very best legal Australian online casinos. Our criteria for judging includes:
- Reliable, well established casinos that welcome Australian players
- Withdrawals and Deposits in Australian Dollars (why pay exchange rates?!)
- Massive jackpots and prize money – including Progressive and Combo Bonuses
- Fantastic bonuses and reward schemes that generously reward heavier players
- A wide variety of games for all skill levels. – Multiple Pokie Styles as well as other online casino games
- Trusted and Reliable Feedback from other Aussie players
- Customer Service and a 24/7 chat line or phone no – Local and not international!
The Best Australian online casinos have to first establish themselves as good online casinos by offering safe, secure and fair game play. Fail this part and we’re not even visiting in the first place!
The best Australian online casinos have approval certificates from independent expert agencies such as eCOGRA. These agencies test the random number generator for fairness, the payment transfer systems for security and also audit the management processes. In the interest of keeping you sane we have done all the homework surrounding the licensing and certification of each of the online casinos we have reviewed and can assure you that we would and do only recommend those which have passed the most stringent of tests.
Security and Fairness is obviously paramount when looking for the best aussie casino for playing pokies online but without doubt the second most important criteria for being rated as a top Australian Online casino for Australians is Customer support
Customer Support is the core of any site that provides a service and the biggest gripe I hear from online casino regulars is the lack of support that exists on so many of the less reputable online casino sites around. When reviewing the various casinos we looked very seriously at the support and decided that if it was not instant, local and relevant then the casino would not even make our list. For an Online Casino to make our list of the TOP ONLINE CASINOS FOR AUSSIES it needed Phone and internet chat support to be provided locally by Australians andthe phone number had to be toll free or local. Finally, we made sure the casino in question actually focused on Australian Sports and gambling relevant to this country – we are a nation of sports stars after all.
Australian players sign up at online casinos for a great gaming experience, and you must be sure that this is available at your chosen site. Here the software provider to the online casino is of paramount importance. The best software providers like Microgaming and Playtech offer not only an exciting games portfolio, but include innovative features in the games. The online pokies have fantastic audio visual animations and exciting bonus features. Casino games like blackjack offer features that assist you in making the optimum play.
Both the number of games offered and the range of games offered are important in choosing the best Australian online casinos. Apart from online pokies, these online casinos offer video poker variants, table games like roulette, blackjack and craps and scratch cards. You must select an online casino that continuously adds to its portfolio of games. The best online casinos would add at least a dozen games a year from software providers who have established themselves as being the best of the best – companies like Microgaming and Playtech who already offer up one of the most exciting online pokie playing experiences stretched across an incredible portfolio of successful programs.
Top 3 Australian Casinos for Online Pokies
SPIN PALACE –
Payout Speed – 48 hours average
Deposit Options: CC/PayPal/NETELLER/PaySafeCard
Compatibility – Andriod/Mac/PC
Signup Bonus – up to $1000
Established in 2002 Spin Palace has long been regarded as one of the better players in the online casino game and as won countless awards and accolades from well respected members of the gaming community. Powered by Microgaming – one of if not the best online casino sofware developer and the owner of Mega Moolah – the richest most well paid out Progressive Online Slots game in the world!
When you first enter the internet lobby of this Casino you are greeted with a warm ambience that is neither overbearing or overwhelming. I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised not to be overwhelmed with flashy banners and offers for free spins and other hollow offers but instead was greeted with an easy to navigate screen that provides links to all the games and resources within easy reach – and easy to find. So far so good Spin Palace….now let’s download some of your games and see what all the fuss is about…
Read our Full Review of Spin Palace Online Casino
RUBY FORTUNE –
Payout Speed – 48 hours average
Deposit Options: CC/PayPal/NETELLER/PaySafeCard
Compatibility – Andriod/Mac/PC
Signup Bonus – up to $750
Ruby Fortune online casino is operated by The Palace Group. It was established in 2003. Australian players are given special benefits. You can wager in Australian dollars. You can also deposit and withdraw funds in Australian dollars. Another important aspect of online casinos is customer support. Australian players can contact the support team using a toll free number, which is a big advantage. The round the clock customer support is also available through live chat and e-mail.
Ruby Fortune online casino has ensured that its operations are secure and fair, and OnlinePokies.com.au is definitely impressed with their commitment to fair play and player security. Its random number generator is periodically tested by eCOGRA for fairness and Ruby Fortune is licensed by the Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta, which is one of the leading regulatory bodies…
..Read our Full Review of Ruby Fortune Online Casino
JACKPOT CITY CASINO –
Payout Speed – 48 hours average
Deposit Options: CC/PayPal/NETELLER/PaySafeCard
Compatibility – Andriod/Mac/PC
Signup Bonus – up to $1600
Jackpot City is an Online Casino that has been delivering premium online gaming with all the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas to Australian residents since 1998 and has continued to raise the bar when it comes to customer service and gambling online. Jackpot City is home to over 500 state-of-the-art games that cover every facet of gambling and betting online – with the latest and greatest Slots and Pokies mixing it with the classics we have all come to know and love. But what makes Jackpot City Online Casino the ultimate in online gaming is the fact they their focus on security and fair game play is second to none – and what’s more their transparency leave little doubt that this Casino’s main focus is on me and my experience whilst visiting their online casino. It is this reviewers wish that all other online casinos – and the ones in the real world for that matter – would take a leaf out of Jackpot City’s book and start putting more focus on the customer and their overall gaming experience and stop worrying about profits!…
Read our Full Review of Jackpot City Online Casino
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