It is no secret for anyone that gambling is an incredibly popular activity in the whole world, and Australia is no exception. And if you want to learn more about gambling in Australia, from its origins and popularity to being an important socio-cultural phenomenon. Moreover, we’ll add some details concerning responsible gambling and the pros & cons of playing Smart Pokies online in Australia. So, if you are ready to start and learn more, let’s not waste any second!
Gambling in Australia: Origins
Generally speaking, if you are looking for the origins of Australian gambling, we want to mention that its first signs took place back in 1810. Back then, they came up with the first official horse race betting meeting which means it was the first time people could place bets legally. It happened at Hyde Park in Sydney.
What concerns other forms of gambling, such as the Australian lottery, it was held in 1881 at the Sydney Cup. And if you are wondering about the first legal poker machines or pokies, then we must say that clubs that had them started working in 1956.
The Popularity of Gaming in Australia
As we said and as you probably see it yourself, people are quite engaged in gambling within Australia. And we would not be wrong to say that gambling is an extremely popular thing to do in the country. First of all, we notice high participation rates, whether we are talking about well-known and much-loved pokies and traditional card games or sports betting. Cultural acceptance is also an important factor as it undoubtedly contributes to the overall popularity and helps to normalise playing casino games and placing wagers.
Moreover, considering how time changes, we can also mention that digitalisation has its impacts too. And gambling has become more accessible and available for anyone than it ever was in the past. Plus, casino operators put a lot of money and effort into their promotion and growth – they buy ads, offer bonuses, and partner with game studios and other companies which also costs cash. And since we’re talking about money, we can mention one more thing: gambling is an industry of huge finances which means casinos pay large taxes and create tons of work opportunities. This is why the government can support this area and encourage betting and casinos.
Intersection of Pokies and Culture of Australian People
If we take a closer look at the socio-cultural dynamics of gambling in Australia, we can get some interesting insights immediately. Basically, in this very section, we are going to discuss the main things that bring gambling & pokies in particular and Australian society along with its culture together.
1. History is an Important Factor
Since the early 20th century, gambling has always been a nice source of entertainment for players in Australia. So, no wonder it managed to get deeply ingrained in the culture of Australia and became an integral part. We all know that now is the time when people mostly play using their phones. But at first, players would go to pubs and clubs if they wanted to test their luck. And while doing that, they would gather together, talk to each other, have some drinks, and basically and simply socialise. Now, people go for online gambling more due to digitalisation which is also a part of history.
2. Bonding and Socialisation Aspects
The first factor we decided to discuss led us to this one. As we said, gambling has always been a great way to socialise and talk to other people. Do you remember the thing we mentioned earlier? The first gathering for horse racing betting happened in 1810. There were no smartphones and people actually had no other choice but to go there and meet everyone in person if they wanted to test their luck. So, practically, gambling was one of the ways for the Australian people to bond and be a part of society.
3. Normalisation & Acceptance
As time goes by, more and more people refuse to spread stereotypes about casinos, and these days, a lot of them consider such websites as places where you can have fun and it’s not necessarily about ruining your life. So, what we are trying to say is that many Australians started thinking about gambling differently. For example, some have fun going to restaurants, some do yoga, some go to dances, and others find their own ways to have a blast. Basically, people started seeing gambling as just another way to relax, and this contributes to its integration into Australia’s culture and daily lives.
4. Design is Another Crucial Socio-Cultural Aspect
Art has always been an integral part of the lives of people from all over the world, and since pokies, our main topic for today, are games that have to be designed and thoroughly developed, they managed to create a close connection between gambling and art. So, talented game studios and their designers work hard to come up with unique, interesting, and nice-looking video slot machines.
5. Themes That Are Inspired By People’s Preferences
There’s no way you never experienced noticing how some things get viral. For example, we all know about the famous TV Show Game of Thrones from HBO or the stories about Sherlock Holmes. Considering how popular and loved these and many other things are, we can see it gently penetrating into the gambling world too. How many pokies inspired by Game of Thrones or Sherlock Holmes have you seen? We have seen tons. And the same goes for other things like Halloween, Christmas, love stories, and other things we enjoy in our daily lives.
6. Development and Modern Technologies
The industry of technological development is also closely connected to pokies since they have to be created using modern digital devices. And other than that, those games have to be RNG based and preferably mobile-compatible which means we are talking about demand and supply. Games need to be created, and people work on them so that other people can play them. So, basically, there are more job opportunities for Australians – everything is closely connected and this is just another example of intersection.
Pros and Cons of Playing Pokies on Australian Gambling Websites
| Pros | Cons |
| They are licensed and certified | Some players tend to develop gambling addictions |
| A lot of games, including pokies, are available for players | Can loose money and more |
| Many operators come up with lucrative bonuses to please their players | |
| On most modern sites, you can use both fiat currencies and crypto currencies |
Types of Bonuses That Help Australian Get More Profit With Pokies
If you are wondering about online pokies bonuses, pay attention to what we are about to say. There are two types of bonuses that can help Australian players the most when playing pokies: cash and free spins. If you happen to receive cash, it means you will be able to spin and preferably get winning symbol combos without spending your own money. And if you receive free spins, you get a certain number of extra rounds for which you also do not need to pay a thing.
What is Responsible Gambling for Australian Players?
Responsible gambling is all about playing casino games or placing sports bets, having a sound mind and not getting too risky if not necessary. And if you are wondering what you personally can do to stick to responsible gambling in Australia, here are some ideas for you.
Choose Certified and Reliable Casinos Only
First of all, if you want to play responsibly, you cannot play at uncertified casinos that are not regular and have no licences. You simply won’t even be able to file a complaint if something goes wrong. So, our advice for our Australian readers is to opt for reliable online casinos only.
Create a Strong Password for Your Account
Once you find your perfect casino in Australia, take some time to come up with a strong password. It is not really responsible when you set an easy password or that one password that you use for all social media platforms and different websites – uniqueness is necessary.
Set Two-Factor Authorization
If you already have an account and you are a registered Australian player, you should go to Settings and set two-factor authorization. This enhances your overall safety and makes it harder for any third parties and scammers to get access to your banking and personal info details.
Stick to Your Limits
Our next piece of advice is to set your limits for both money and time because when people lose track of time or they start spending too much cash, it may result in developing a gambling addiction. So, please, if a casino offers setting those restrictions so you can limit yourself, do it.
Get Assistance if You Need It
In case the addiction we mentioned earlier got you in some way, don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask for assistance. Gambling is fun when it’s in moderation but there’s nothing wrong with looking for help if you think something is not right with your behaviour and habits. It’s the truth – there are decent organisations that are ready to come to your rescue in Australia.
FAQ
What Was the First Official Gambling Gathering in Australia?
It was a horse race for betting that took place in 1810 at Hyde Park in the city of Sydney.
Why Does the Government Allow Casinos in Australia?
Let’s put it simply, gambling is an industry of big finances, so it’s good for the country if it brings a lot of cash and pays taxes.
What Things Bring the Australian Society and Gambling Together?
Well, we can point out acceptance, normalisation, history, design, themes, modern technologies, and simple socialisation and bonding.
Online gambling carries many risks, including addiction, financial loss, and legal obligations. Gamble responsibly, know your local laws, and seek help if needed. CULTR does not hold any responsibility for your actions.
