The Interesting Tale of Gambling in Australia

The story of Australia has many intriguing twists and turns, and a significant part of the history of the country is its development of gambling and sports betting. Put simply, gambling has been an important part of Aussie culture for centuries – even if the legalisation process and introduction of important gambling regulations are relatively new. 

This blog tells the tale of the interesting history of gambling in Australia, from a game that was first brought over by European settlers to an industry now responsible for the spending of billions of Australian dollars every year. If you’re keen to find out more about how Australians enjoy the world of online and in-person casinos, why not also read a premier study of the best online casinos in Australia and New Zealand, too? 

Gambling Takes Its Roots in Australia in 1788

When talking about the introduction of gambling to Australia, many trace the start of its roots back to 1788 when the first fleet of European settlers arrived at the shores of the country’s infamous sandy beaches. These settlers developed a simple coin game called ‘Two-Up’ which involved tossing two coins into the air at the same time and betting on which way up they would land. The game quickly surged in popularity, spreading like wildfire to western and southern Australia during the great Australian gold rush of the 1850s and 1860s. Today, ‘Two-Up’ is illegal in Australia, however, it becomes legalised for ANZAC day once a year given how popular the game was among Australian troops in the First World War. 

1810: Horse Racing Begins in the Country

In 1810, one official horse race changed the history of gambling in Australia forever; during the race, spectators began the first round of live betting which quickly snowballed into horse racing becoming a popular sporting and betting event in New South Wales during the same period. During the gold rush years, there was an enormous growth of bookmakers at metropolitan tracks and country meets, so in 1842, the Australian Jockey Club was founded in an attempt to introduce some formal organisation and management of the practice. A network of principal clubs shortly followed. 

The First Official Australian Lottery is Held in 1916

While the idea of the lottery was first introduced when George Adams placed sweepstakes for the 1881 Sydney Cup, it wasn’t until The Golden Casket Lottery was set up by the Australian government to fundraise for charities and community projects in Australia that the lottery officially cemented its place in the country. In the decades following, each individual Australian state introduced its own version of the game (and its own laws!) to gather funds for things like hospitals, state infrastructure, schools and other government-funded projects. These days, Australia boasts a number of lottery schemes that are state-owned, part of the private sector and even not-for-profit! 

1956: Pokie Machines Are Legalised in New South Wales

Slot machines, more affectionately known as ‘pokies’, were legalised by the government of New South Wales in registered clubs and pubs following the success of the first slot machine in the United States. Very soon, pokies became a big hit with the Aussies, despite the offering of pretty basic games and relatively small jackpots. By the mid-1980s, pokies had become a lot more advanced than their simple original models, and in the early 1990s, several Australian states released these new and more advanced poker machines into pubs. Today, Australia ranks seventh for the total number of pokies in the entire world!

Wrest Point Casino Becomes the First Casino in Australia in 1973

While many gamblers would head to pubs and bars to try their luck on pokie machines, Australia didn’t have a single legal casino until 1973. The introduction of The Wrest Point Hotel Casino in Hobart was a result of several years of campaigning by Tasmian officials for a casino to boost its tourism industry. Years of hustling finally paid off when the casino officially opened and Aussies could finally enjoy games like blackjack, roulette and baccarat on the floor. In the decade that followed the opening of the country’s first legal casino, more sites were established in South Australia, Queensland, and Western Australia between 1985 and 1986 – totally changing the look of the industry we are familiar with today.