Different cultures have different patterns on their behalf. Though, some of the patterns can be quite destructive for certain cultures. One of the most ingrained patterns in the culture is betting, which became a crucial problem for Australians. As betting becomes more and more popular, with the vast majority of the population being involved in the gambling industry, people tend to lose more and more money on the betting, which in the end results in severe psychological additions and several hundred million of loss.
The Problem As It Is
Online gambling is prohibited in Australia, but online betting is not, which is a big deal for a country. People use their mobile devices to bet constantly especially sports, horse betting. Men and women over 18, who are legal to gamble are all over-involved in the industry. The last survey and research that was published as a warning statistics.
Statistics show that as a nation Australia bet $209 billion in the years of 2016 and 2017, an increase of 0.7% over the previous years. The data collected for the past 34 years and published annually by the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office is considered the most comprehensive snapshot of gambling in Australia
It shows that, when averaged out across the entire adult population, Australians bet almost $11,000 per person, making Australia the biggest betting nation on the planet, and even Singapore which is the second on the list is very distant with the numbers.
People bet a lot, but they lose a lot as well, in total Australians lost around $23.7 billion on all forms of gambling in 2016 to 2017, which includes activities such as pokies, lotteries, casinos as well as sports betting and racing. The number is $1.251 for each man and woman, which is the all-time most drastic increase of 15%.
Addiction
People have a serious addiction to gaming, especially to pokies and betting. An average person can lose up to half a million in only a day, but usually, it limits at several thousand, which is still a very big amount. The problem is also evident, when the troubles in taking the loans from the banks pop up, due to massive loses.
Dr. Hunt who is a local psychologist specialized in the gaming problems said that 37% of his patients address him with having sports betting problems. People of all ages have addiction issues, which brings them to a very difficult mental condition afterward. According to the words of Dr. Hund and Fennessy, who is also a local psychologist the patterns on betting are shifting and that may be the result of the constant advertising.
The situation is more severe while comparing to any other years, meaning that some action should be taken in order to prevent further additions in the population and to make gambling more responsible activity.
What Can Be Done
Some of the regulations can be implemented, as the population is not against, but opposite they are much in favor of the collaboration of the gaming agencies and the state government, in order to make the gaming society relaxed and responsible for the actions. The constant loses and spending too much money daily on gaming is a warning sign.
The state can also be due to the easily accessible infrastructure and sources of gambling. Pokies that can be found in almost every pub or bar and even in some of the cafes are available for any visitor including teenagers and children who are the easiest to be seduced.
Some kind of regulations concerning the venues and the affordability would assist further additions in the society.
Training dedicated to responsible gaming has been launched recently, which hosted representatives of 15 countries, from different spheres in order to make people acknowledged the existing problems as well as to make them aware of responsible gambling.
Anyways, the pattern that is so much ingrained in the Australian culture does not seem to be doing well for the people. And we need to be responsible for our actions, which includes taking care of the finances and our psychological state.