Gambling addiction in Australia is getting out of control

The global corona pandemic has probably led to a large number of people becoming addicted to gambling, particularly in Australia. At the beginning of the month, we at Casinova.org reported that Australians are losing more and more money in the best online casinos. According to this, every resident of the country lost the equivalent of around 775 euros last year.

Gambling addicts in Australia comparable to gun nuts in the USA

The media is already making a comparison that Australians who are addicted to gambling behave in a similar way to gun nuts in the United States. According to this, gambling in Down Under is firmly rooted in people’s minds and many Australians regularly engage in various types of gambling. Slot machines and horse racing are of course particularly popular here.

Tip: Several years ago, we answered the question of how gambling addiction can be recognized and effectively combated in a guide.

Australian government refuses to ban gambling advertising

As was only announced in mid-October, the government in Australia is still refusing to impose a strict ban on gambling advertising. And that despite the fact that there are currently over 30,500 players registered in the nationwide blocking register. In recent months in particular, the number of registered players has increased significantly – in the first quarter of 2024 alone, an increase of over 4,500 people was reported. What is particularly alarming is the fact that almost half of the banned players are not even 30 years old. According to the register, a large proportion of the banned Australians come from Victoria and New South Wales, where the metropolises of Melbourne and Sydney are located.

Conclusion

Gambling has been part of Australia’s DNA for a long time. Horse betting and slot machines in particular have been very popular with the “Aussies” for years. But now it is the responsibility of politicians to protect the population from the dangers of gambling. The number of players with problematic or even pathological gambling behavior has increased sharply, particularly in the last few months.