From antiquity to Australia: a brief account of gambling

Abstract

Gambling has long been known as a form of addiction, the effects of which can be devastating for the individuals involved. However, it is also a pervasive cultural phenomenon that has been a fascination and a temptation for cultures from antiquity to the present. This paper begins with a historical account of the fascination with gambling and then proceeds to an account of gambling in Australia's history, as well as its current status in national and regional Australian society. Furthermore, a number of key features of gambling, which seem to be trans-historical and trans-cultural, will be discussed.