History Of Gambling In Australia

When I first ever visited Australia, I was deeply impressed by the grandeur and sheer scale of the local land-based venues. I couldn't believe my own eyes when I first stepped into the luxury Crown Casino in Barangaroo: It was even more incredible on the inside than on the outside with the fully automated gaming machines, high-end casino tables, and panoramic harbor views. It became clear to me why gambling is a favored pastime and passion for many Australians. To understand how gambling became an integral part of Australian culture and identity, I have written this in-depth review. Let's delve into the fascinating gambling landscape of this beautiful country!

The Early Origins Of Australian Gambling

I was surprised to learn that the history of gambling in Australia started very early with the games of Indigenous Australians. Yes, they had their gambling scene, especially the ball game Marn Grook. And people placed bets on the participants in the form of crafted tools and food items. The “official” history of Australian gambling started later, in the 18th century, with the arrival of Europeans. In 1788 the European settlers arrived in New South Wales and introduced their gambling traditions to locals. One of their most popular games was ‘Two-Up’. They tossed two coins in the air and placed bets as to how they would fall.

Betting on horse racing and lotteries was the first organized type of gambling in Australia. The first official horse race took place in 1810 in Hyde Park in Sydney. It was organized by Governor Macquarie. 32 years later Australians established the Australian Jockey Club (AJC) in Sydney. 51 years later there even appeared the first Australian Racing club in Victoria. The first official lottery also took place in the 1880s in Sydney. The next lottery was held in 1916. As for slot machines or pokies, which are so popular today, they appeared in Australia much later. The first gaming machines were brought to Australia in 1953.

Gold Rush & The Rise Of Land-Based Venues

The interest in gambling in the country rose, and the gold rush accelerated the development of gambling. Miners actively took part in many games of luck. But it wasn't until the beginning of the 20th century, that the Australian government started regulating gambling within different territories. So, gambling was popular but it wasn't legalized until that time. The government legalized of course horse betting in the 1950s, hoping for revenue from gambling activities. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Australian authorities have been strictly regulating gambling in the country.

In the 20th century, the Australian government launched its first official lottery. It was called the Golden Casket Lottery and was launched during World War I to gather funds for war veterans. In 1916 the lottery took place in Queensland.

The 20th century also was the time of the major technical advancements in the gambling Industry. In 1913, George Julius developed the first World’s Automatic Totalisator. It was a mechanical vote-counting device that helped people ace bets on horse races. The tote machine was installed at Ellerslie Racecourse in New Zealand. I find it hard to imagine that until that time people had to handle the racetrack and place bets on horse racing on their own, without any devices. The pokie machines were introduced to Australians by an Australian company named Aristocrat. In the 1950s they created the first gaming machines in Australia. In 1956, the gaming machines were legalized by the government of New South Wales.

This technical advancement was a big leap towards the development of land-based gambling venues. The official beginning of the land-based casino industry dates back to 1973. In 1973, the Wrest Point Hotel Casino, or Hobart Casino was established in Hobart, Tasmania. New slot machines became a hit and found their way to Australian casinos. By the way, it still exists! Besides the Crown, I also visited this casino on Hobart's waterfront. The venue is home to over 450 gaming machines and numerous table games like Pontoon, Baccarat, and Roulette. By the way, if you are looking for a land-based Australian casino with the best slots australia to visit, my suggestion would be Hobart.

Over the next decades, many Australian casinos opened. By the way, land-based casinos are strictly regulated by the local authorities in Australian states. Today each of the eight Australian states has its gambling authority that regulates the casinos within their territories. To provide its services to Australian gamblers, a land-based casino has to get a gambling license. There are also many state-owned lotteries at the moment.

Online Gambling In Australia

With so many advanced slot machines many people in Australia prefer electronic gaming machines to online slots. However, the major expansion of online gambling also found its way to Australia. Online gambling is also strictly regulated in the country. Due to the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001, Aussie-licensed online gambling providers can't legally operate in Australia. Practically, it doesn't prohibit Australians from using such services.

Today gambling in Australia is a booming industry. It is widely accepted among the locals. Australian land-based gambling is thriving.