Gambling is one of the most popular pass-time activities in the world. It is one of the few hobbies that are common in almost all cultures of the world. But how much do people around the world spend on gambling?
How much do they love the activity? In this article, we will cover this subject by analyzing a few countries where people love to gamble.
Finland
We hear very little world news from the nation of Finland, and most people may not even be able to point it out on a map. However, one thing the Finnish are known for is gambling. Almost all Online Cricket Betting ID have opened up their services to residents of Finland since they offer high profits to the casinos.
Until 2011, the legal gambling age in the country was 15, but it has since been raised to 18. It is estimated that 80% of the people in Finland had gambled at least once in the past year.
It should be noted that gambling was encouraged by the Finnish government when the national lottery was introduced. Citizens of the country understood the purpose of the lottery and bought tickets as a civic duty.
Before, most people used Swedish lottery tickets, and this only helped the Swedish economy while damaging the Finnish society. Because of this history, gambling has never been looked down upon, and not many people in the country view it as a social problem.
Today, many people in Finland place bets online. Their transition from the national lottery may have more to do with their convenience, as this is the crucial motivation for people from around the world.
Singapore
Singapore legalized gambling in 2010, and even at this time, the government was worried that the legislation would be dangerous to society and the economy. To reduce the gambling problem, the state introduced a high entrance fee for locals who wish to gamble in the casinos. The city has become world-famous as a gambling destination, and today, Singaporeans spend about $891 per person in gambling.
The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom spends more than $18 billion on gambling. These statistics covers all forms of gambling, including the lottery. Online gambling has grown in popularity in this region and has become currently more popular than traditional casinos.
Gambling in the UK is a tradition that goes back centuries. Ever since the 15th century, various forms of gambling have existed in the kingdom. By the 17th century, lotteries had been introduced to finance some government projects.
Later, gambling would be banned throughout the kingdom, although unsuccessfully. Clermont Club, the first official casino in the UK, was opened in 1962 and is still in existence.
Records indicate that more than 2500 operators have been licensed in the UK. The nation has over 8,000 betting shops and about 150 casinos.
Australia
Australia is another country with a serious gambling problem. More than 80% of adults in the country are engaged in some form of gambling. No other country has recorded such high gambling rates.
Gambling in Australia started in the 19th century, with the introduction of the national lottery. Poker machines first appeared in the country in the 1950s. As of 2014, New South Wales had more than 95,000 slot machines. This puts them in second place in the world, right after Nevada.
Recently, the government of Australia introduced legislation to control interactive online gambling. They made it illegal for casinos to offer interactive games on the internet. However, players don’t have to worry about these laws since it is explicitly targeted at the service providers.
It is not an offense for an Australian to place wagers on the games. Australians have been spending millions on online gaming every year.
One reason why these sites have become appealing to gamblers is that they allow players to practice without spending any of their real money. As Mike Tan, partner at OnlineCasinoGems notes, “You’ll get a sense of the games and learn how they work before playing for real. This can be advantageous to people who like to get some control of the outcome of the games.”
Canada
Canada is famous for many things, but few people appreciate its love for gambling. About 76% of the country’s population engages in some form of gambling. Unlike the neighboring USA, Canada has created institutions to integrate online gaming into the country.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission licenses online Cricket ID and poker sites in Canada that has allowed the state to keep revenue obtained from gambling.
The number of gaming areas in Canada has been rising steadily over the past few years.
The USA
The USA is a collection of many states, some of which are larger than most countries in the world. For this reason, it is hard to generalize the popularity of gambling in the whole nation.
Gambling has been restricted around the country for decades, but the culture of gaming never went away. For a long time, most people gambled illegally in the USA, and criminal organizations ran most establishments.
When Nevada legalized gambling in the mid-20th century, people flocked to the state to place wagers on the newly developed city of Las Vegas. The place had a bit of a crime problem since criminal organizations ran most of the casinos. How Stuff Works even notes that the Mafia played a significant role in developing Las Vegas into a gambling paradise.
Over time, the government managed to root out the criminal influence in the gambling houses. Today, the casinos are mostly corporate.
This Wikipedia article mentions that the primary economic drivers of the Las Vegas economy are gambling and tourism. It also notes that many people visit the city of Las Vegas to enjoy the glamorous casinos.
Private developers have also established resorts and hotels where you can enjoy your vacations. According to Gambling News Magazine, there are more than 400 different hotels in the city, and this gives you a wide range of choices.
The Final Word
Residents of the countries listed above may have some of the highest gambling rates in the world, but that does not mean other countries don’t have strong gambling enthusiasts. In almost all regions, casinos will be packed, especially on the weekends.
More people now gamble on the internet as that comes with a wide range of benefits. Gamblers can enjoy bonuses and free games. These sites also offer high levels of convenience since people can gamble without leaving their homes.