Keno to Two-Up: Gambling Traditions in Australia

Australia has a rich history of gambling, and it is a highly prominent form of entertainment among Aussie men. In 2022, a study showed that 72.8% of Aussies gambled in the previous 12 months, and it is estimated that Australians spend more money on online gambling than any other country in the world.

This pastime really dates back to the early European settlers, who brought Two Up to the continent. And throughout the years, the demand for gambling ventures have just extended, with horse racing, scratchies, pokies and keno becoming Australia’s favourite gambling pastimes. Gambling, both online and landbased, is fully legal in Australia. Online casinos are technically illegal in Australia, according to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. However, each territory has its own gambling regulators who govern gambling as they see fit in their respective regions. And the demand for iGaming is extremely high in Australia, leading to a great influx of overseas online platforms extending their services to Aussies.

Old School Gambling: Two Up

Two Up is one of the oldest gambling games in Australia, and its roots go way further back. It is based on a game in Ancient Greece that revolves around tossing two coins in the air and betting on them. The game is commonly played on Anzac Day, April 25th, across the country. A spinner is selected to toss the coins, and has to launch them at least 3 metres into the air. These coins must land in the “ring”, a designated landing cirlce. And there are three results:

• Two Heads
• Two Tails
• One of Each (also called Odds)

If the coins land on “Odds”, then the coins must be tossed again. Should the coins land on Heads, the spinner wins their bet, but if the coins land on tails, they lose. This traditional game was extremely popular among First World War officers, and sometimes involved more than 2 coins. On a technical level, Two Up is illegal on every day except Anzac Day. On that day, it is played in virtually all pubs, event centres, and community halls across the country.

Gambling Legislation in Australia

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is responsible for raising gambling awareness and preventing gambling harm in Australia. It is estimated that Australians lose around $25 billion each year on gambling, making it the largest losses per capita in the world. Lotteries and scratchcard, affectionately known as scratchies, are the most popular form of gambling in Australia. Next, horse racing is another mainstream form of gambling, and Australia has some of the biggest horse races in the world.

Though the gambling also spreads to pokies, sports betting, casino table games, and exotic casino titles. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 made online casinos illegal in Australia. That means you can’t play online pokies or any other casino games in Australia. By law, that is. But there are plenty of offshore and international online casinos that still provide online casino games to Aussies.

They are not recognised by the local laws, but a lot of them are regulated elsewhere. While technically they are illegal, the laws are more concerned about operators than players who play online casino games. As there are just too many Aussies who play at international online casinos. So anyone in Australia who is thinking of joining an international casino, remember this. There are no specific laws punishing you, but make sure the online casino you pick has international iGaming licensure.

Top Gambling Ventures in Australia

In terms of popularity, scratchies and lotteries are really the biggest gambling ventures in Australia. Pokies are not far behind, and have found mainstream popularity amongst Australia’s youth. However, we can’t rule out time-old classic forms of gambling, such as two up or horse racing, which have been practised for decades.

Australia’s Fascination with Horse Race Betting

Horse racing has been considered the Sport of Kings in Australia, and there are no shortage of top meetings. The most famous of these is the Melbourne Cup, held in Victoria typically on the first Tuesday of November. It is known as the horse races that stops the nation. Because when the Melbourne Cup is on, the whole nation pauses to watch the race.

Besides the Melbourne Cup, there are races such as the Australian Cup, The Everest, Cox Plate and Golden Slipper which are also highly watched. Flemington Racecourse, which hosts the Melbourne Cup, is the biggest and most well known Aussie horse racetrack. But the country is filled with them, and races run practically all year round Down Under.

Horse race betting, with its advanced combination wagers, exotic bets, lengthy odds, and sweepstakes or tote betting possibilities, is hugely popular in the country. Whether you are placing a Superfecta bet at an Aussie horse racebook, or placing your stake in a public betting pool, there are many ways to enjoy a little gamble on Australia’s top horse racing events.

Pokies in Australia

Pokies generally define electronic gaming machines, but colloquially, pokies translates to slot machines. Originally called poker machines, the first slots came to Australia in 1953, by a local company called Aristocrat. If you have played online slots before, you may know Aristocrat Gaming. They have produced many big hits such as Buffalo Gold Revolution, Queen of the Nile II, and Choy Sun Doa.

Slots are by far the most popular online casino game across the world, and this is not lost on Australians. And the hype is not just all around online pokies. It also goes for landbased casinos and pokies arcades. Australia has less than 1% of the world’s population, but it has 18% of the world’s pokies. These machines are mainly located in casinos, but you will find them in many other surprising places too. For example, pokies tucked away neatly in quiet corners of pubs or even on street corners.

And to meet the high demand, Aristocrat and the other software providers that work in Australia constantly come up with innovative features and slots mechanics to make the games more exciting. Australia has some of the most exhilarating slots for gamblers, and is quick to pick up on new trends or get their hands on the hottest games.

Traditional Casino Games

Games likes blackjack, baccarat, roulette, poker and craps are not as widespread at pokies, but they too are popular in Australia. Major casinos offer all these kinds of casino games, with electronic and live dealer tables alike. Video poker and blackjack are especially appealing because players can influence the outcome. And thus, you can build strategies, follow basic strategy guides, or even learn how to count cards for blackjack.

In roulette or craps, the various different types of bets give players more flexibility with their wagers. You can go for lower odds and better chances of winning bets. Or, go out on a limb and try to hit those 35:1 straight up bets on roulette. Craps has a good variety of betting options too. And several online platforms provide live craps in Australia.

Baccarat is a more complex game, but it is one enjoyed by many high stakes bettors in the country. At tables in landbased venues, or at unregulated online casinos, there are baccarat games that can be played for thousands of AUD.

Keno and Exotic Casino Games

Keno is another pub favourite, just like pokies. It is more popular than traditional casino games, and is very easy to pick up. At its essence, you are picking numbers and hoping they will match the draw. A little like bingo, which has also found success in Australia. The SA Lotteries Keno operates 24.7 and has draws every 4 minutes. It is the biggest of the Aussie keno games run by the Lottery Corporation in Australia.

The continent also has a rich multicultural presence, which naturally builds the interest in exotic games such as Sic Bo or Pai Gow. These may not be so common at Aussie landbased casinos, but they are played regularly at the online casinos operating in the country.

Scratchies, Lotto-Games and Jackpot Titles

According to the Institute of Health and Welfare, AIHW, lotteries and scratchies are the most popular form of gambling in Australia. They are easy to source, and are played by people of all demographics. Lotteries are licensed at a state or territory level, and most have online platforms where players can snap up scratchies or lottery tickets.

The biggest company in Australia is the Lottery Corporation, which is licensed in all states except for Western Australia. In that state, players have Lotterywest, which is owned by the Western Australian Government. On Saturday Nights, the Saturday Lotto is held. This game requires players to pick 6 from 45 numbers. Prizes are offered for winning anywhere from 3 numbers up to the grand prize for 6 numbers. And these prizes can vary from around $10 up to over $1 million for getting 3 to 6 numbers, respectively.

Lotteries are available in abundance, attracting players from all over the continent to place their lucky numbers. Or come up with winning formulas to hit the big time. After Saturday Lotto, you have the likes of the Oz Lotto, Powerball, and various international lotteries that are provided by the Lottery Office in Australia. You buy a ticket at the Lottery Office, and they purchase a matching ticket in the USA Power Lotto or European Millions. And there are plenty of international lotteries you can take part in. The allure of hitting jackpots runs high among Aussie gamers. And they have plenty of ventures to fill those needs with.

Australia’s Huge Casino Resorts

The continent is full of world-class casino resorts and gaming venues, which are easily comparable to the best Vegas or Atlantic City Casinos. These are mostly located in the bigger cities of Canberra, Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. The biggest Aussie casinos include the Crown Melbourne, Star Casino, Crown Casino, and Casino Canberra.

These resorts have huge floors packed with carefully picked games. Whether you want to enter high stakes poker tournaments, hit the blackjack tables, or browse the pokies aisles for treasures, Australia has no shortage of top quality casino games.

Responsible Gambling Initiatives in Australia

No country wants to have a reputation as being the one with the largest casino losses. But with such a big culture of gambling, it comes with the territory. Nonetheless, Australia is very proactive when it comes to promoting safer gambling practices. There are plenty of programs, such as GambleAware, that educate players about the dangers of gambling. Specifically, these programs can teach about the many gamblers’ fallacies, and the psychological impacts that gambling has on us.

The lawmakers also do their bit to reduce the means through which casinos target players. There are strict advertising caps to limit the gambling exposure, especially among younger players. And through more expansive education and easier access to responsible gambling initiatives, players have lots of means through which they can learn how to play safer.

Gambling is definitely a big part of Aussie culture, but it shouldn’t be practised without knowledge of the dangers. As new pokies hit the market, expansive online casinos offer their services in the country, and the stakes for horse race betting expand, all players have to learn how to play responsibly. You should always keep the balance between excess and entertainment. Play as a source of entertainment, and not as a means to make quick money, or get a dopamine hit. As you never quite know what will happen in gambling. And it is always better to play safe than be sorry later.