Introduction

Public holidays in Australia are a time to rest, celebrate and spend time with loved ones. But beneath the barbecues and parades lies a quieter phenomenon - a noteworthy surge in gambling activity. Whether it's Melbourne Cup Day, ANZAC Day or even the extended breaks, public holidays often lead to increased gambling behaviors. In this blog, we will explore how and why public holidays influence gambling in Australia and what that means for society.

In Australia, gambling regulations on holidays vary by state and territory, with specific restrictions often in place for the following significant days:

Why is Australia a Gambling Hub during holidays?

This country is regarded to be a potent ground for gambling during public holidays for several cultural, economic, and social reasons.

• Increased Free Time : With more free time and fewer chores for the day, people are more likely to get engrossed in gambling
• Cultural Lifestyle and Phenomenon : Some of the biggest gambling events coincide with public holidays, such as Melbourne Cup Day and ANZAC day
• Cultural taking of Gambling: Australia has a deeply entrenched gambling culture and pokies (slot machines), horse racing, lotteries and sports betting are a part of day to day life, especially amplified during public holidays
• Marketing and Promotions: Gamblers are attracted to gambling when offered special odds, free bets and event-themed gambling packages. These attractive offers further fuels gambling in Australia
• Availability of Venues: Australia has one of the highest concentrations of gambling venues per capita. This widespread availability is a key factor in contributing to the spike in gambling, especially during public holidays, when many venues, including clubs and pubs with pokies and betting terminals, remain open and active

Gambling regulations across states during holidays

Australia’s gambling laws vary significantly between states and territories especially during public holidays. Following are the state wise limitations:

• Trading Restrictions and Venue Operations
• Compliance with Responsible Gambling Regulations
• Employer & Staff Rights
• Event-Driven Gambling (Racing & Sports)

State wise overview of the General Trading Hours for Gaming Venues

Victoria

Gaming machines must be shut down daily between 4:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Additionally, on holidays like Good Friday, ANZAC Day, and Christmas Day venues may face additional restrictions based on their liquor licence conditions. Venues must obey liquor licence conditions, which may include restrictions on gambling machines. In 2024, 14 venue operators were fined a total of $195,000 for breaching the trading hours.
Also, in the same year Melbourne Racing Club was fined $60,000 for allowing poker machine use before noon on Good Friday.

New South Wales

On holidays, venues may apply for a 3-hour shutdown period from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM. Hotels and other venues must follow these restrictions unless they have received permissions for certain variations.

Queensland

On Christmas Eve, all gaming machines must stop at midnight and cannot start again until 10:00 AM on Boxing Day. On the holiday on account of Christmas Day , gambling is permissible only with a meal in a designated dining area between 10:00 AM and midnight.
On ANZAC Day, liquor can be sold from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM only with a meal that too in a particular zone. Takeaway alcohol as well as all gambling machines and KENO are not permitted before 1:00 PM.

Impact on Society

Like everything, gambling during the holidays has both positive and negative impacts just like two sides of the coin.

Positive impacts include Entertainment, Economic and Cultural values. When done responsibly, a night at any casino venue could be a great holiday experience. This industry aids tourism revenue and supports jobs in hospitality and entertainment. Taxes and revenue earned during this tenure goes towards community programs and infrastructure.

There is a hike in the price on menu items which also contributes towards the revenue and provides extra benefits to the working staff. For visitors/ tourists, experiencing an iconic casino (like Crown Casino ) can be a "memorable" part of the trip (especially if regulated responsibly).

Apart from the positive effects, gambling during the holidays do hold some cons as well.

Here’s a list of the negative impacts of gambling during the holidays:

• Escalated Gambling Behavior
• Monetary Harm
• Mental and Emotional Distress
• Stress on Families
• Gambling Culture becomes casual
• Commercial exploitation

Potential Mitigation Solutions

Noticing the intensified risks, there's a growing argument over whether more strict regulations should apply during public holidays or not. Potential solutions include:

• Stricter marketing controls during the holidays
• Restrictions on promotional betting offers
• More public awareness campaigns around gambling harm
• Easy access to support services to help with gambling problems during high-risk periods

While gambling may seem like a harmless holiday tradition to some, its impact during holidays especially in a country like Australia where losses top $25 billion annually can be devastating. The convergence of festivity, emotional vulnerability and accessibility creates a perfect storm for harm.

Conclusion

Casinos and pokies in pubs and clubs in cities like Melbourne and Sydney, is an alluring way to spend leisure time.

As a vacationer, it is important to approach gambling with cognizance - know how to set limits and remember that a good holiday should not come at the cost of our well-being and wallet. There are high per capita losses due to gambling in the country but there are some positive aspects to consider:

1. Economic Contributions
2. Support for Community and Veteran Services
3. Cultural and Social Affects
4. Innovation and Technological advancements

The main challenge for the country is to maintain the economic, social and cultural benefits of gambling while ensuring that risks and harms are minimized - especially during the holidays. In the end, Australia’s holiday spirit should be about making meaningful memories while staying responsible.