Australians are known around the world for their friendly disposition, their love of the sun and outdoors, and a penchant for roasting food over an open flame.
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Unfortunately, we also hold the unenviable title of the highest rate of gambling in the world.
More than 80 per cent of Australian adults partake in some form.
Not that there’s anything wrong with having the occasional flutter – a Tatts ticket, a small wager on Melbourne Cup day. For most people, they can quite innocently hand over a few spare dollars and be no worse off if they luck out.
As they say, most things in moderation are fine. And we do live in a free, democratic society, and as adults we are free to make our own decisions. But sadly, that’s not the case for many Australians, who spend almost $12 billion a year on poker machines alone.
One-in-six Australians who play the pokies on a regular basis are considered problem gamblers – those who are addicted. And as science has already told us, addiction is a disease – a chronic relapsing brain disease to be precise.
The average problem gambler in Australia loses a staggering $21,000 a year. But what is even more troubling is just how invasive gambling has become in recent times.
Seemingly, you cannot watch a major sporting event on television without being bombarded with the latest odds by a former sporting star, or told of the odds for each team during a football show.
Gambling also encroaches upon our lives when we’re on the internet. Have you ever tried to check the AFL scores on a Saturday afternoon? The AFL website gives up-to-the-minute odds of every match as they’re being played out in real time.
As we move to becoming a more digitially connected, mobile society, gambling organisations appear to be thriving and their numbers swelling at an alarming rate.
And as that competition grows, the companies themselves are finding new and innovative ways to stay on top. Offering better odds than their competitors is the obvious example, but offering cash incentives to join is another tact – spend $25 and receive an extra $100 credit is a common ploy.
This next generation of gambling that is not-so-quietly or covertly invading our lives is becoming a growing problem and it’s an issue that state and federal governments need to address much sooner rather than later.
