Australian Gaming In The Perspective Of Australian National Identity

Gambling has a crucial and distinctive place in the Australian culture. Since the first colonial settlement, gambling has been widespread throughout the country. Today, gambling has already become a profitable and thriving industry in Australia. Many Australians are proud of their reputation as a nation of people who will "bet on two flies on the wall". The reason for the popularity of gambling in Australia can go to the close relationship between gambling and Australian national identity.This study attempts to explore the history and current situation of Australia's gaming industry, and to analyze its relationship with the Australian national identity. The study will focus on the cultural factors integrated in the gambling activities in Australia, using cultural elements to explain and study the significant social phenomenon.The current situation of Australian gaming industry and the definition of Australian national identity will be introduced at first to serve as the background for the research, followed by the historical development of gambling. And then four representative elements in Australian national identity, egalitarianism, sports enthusiasm, fatalism and mateship are discussed together with gambling, revealing a result that those cultural factors are all embodied in gambling. Finally, the study points out that the close connection between gaming and Australian national identity does not mean that all Australians are irrational gamblers. Actually, along with the promotion of the gaming industry, the Australian governments have attached great importance to the laws and regulations towards gambling and the help to the gambling addicts, exerting effective prevention of the negative side-effect.