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Latest Gambling & Casino News. Discover the important stories from around the world. Casino.org - The world's Gaming Authority Since 1995. Topics: gambling, internet-culture, family-and-children, fraud-and-corporate-crime, law-crime-and-justice, australia First posted September 04, 2017 12:14:41 Top Stories.

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Dec 18, 2017 Gambling losses in Australia are at a record high after punters frittered away almost A$24bn (£14bn; $18bn) in a year, according to data compiled by the Queensland state government this month. Dec 14, 2020 The research showed far fewer Australians participated in a range of gambling channels from April 2019 to May 2020, with an estimated 2.7 million less adults buying raffle tickets, 1.7 million fewer playing a lottery game and 1.6 million fewer adults playing poker machines or gaming machines at a venue. While total gambling spending in Australia decreased during 2016-17, sports betting increased by 15.3%, from A$921 million to A$1.062 billion.

Updated September 04, 2017 16:45:46

I'm a gambling addict. Three years ago, I was convicted of white collar fraud, after I stole over $130,000 from my employer to fuel an insatiable addiction.

My poison of choice was not poker machines, but online gambling.

Racing, the thoroughbreds, the trots, the dogs — I wasn't fussy, so long as I could get a bet on and fuel that addiction.

The bets would range anywhere between $5,000 and $20,000 a day. I would bet until 3:00am, try to sleep for three hours and bet again for another three hours on online racing in the United States.

I always thought the stereotypical gambling addict was a working-class middle-aged man or woman, sitting at their local club, feeding their favourite pokies machine four or five nights a week.

But I rarely ventured into the local TAB.

Betting while the kids were in the bath

At the zenith of my addiction, I was married with two beautiful young children and working as a finance manager at a local council.

When I was with my family, I was physically there — but mentally, I was miles away, thinking about gambling: when I could next bet, where would the money come from, whether I could back a winner.

I thought about gambling 24/7. I placed bets at home, at work, the shops — basically everywhere and anywhere I could get reception on my phone.

I would be walking with the kids and our dog, yet I'd still be trying to place bets. I would even bet and watch the races on the phone while the kids were in the bath.

A knock at the door

I had been thinking about stealing to solve some of my debt problems for months, but I couldn't do it because I knew the consequences would be dire.

Then one evening, I had a visit from two large men with a baseball bat, strongly suggesting it would be in my best interests to repay a sizable debt that was due that week.

They punched me and threatened to use the baseball bat 'next time'.

I was left bruised and battered from their warning. It was a seriously scary moment; I still occasionally have flashbacks and it sends chills through my body.

That night, I made the decision to steal from work. I felt physically sick and fidgety; my mind wouldn't stop racing. I knew it was wrong, but I did it — knowing I could one day get caught.

The first time is without a doubt the hardest — but once you've done it, stealing becomes easier.

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I had nothing to lose. That's how I 'reasoned' it.

However, stealing became another problem to add to my list.

I was constantly worried about being caught. When someone knocked on my office door, when I got a phone call, when my boss called me to a meeting, I was never quite sure.

The fear was slowly killing me, but I couldn't confess, couldn't turn back. I was on a knife-edge with no solution, no way out.

It was a Monday morning when I was finally caught. I was called into the CEO's office and they presented me with the overwhelming evidence.

I was caught red-handed, but I still denied it. I knew my career was over and that jail was not far away.

But at that stage, I had a small sense of relief. No more looking over my back. The lying and deceitfulness could stop.

On the inside

When I was caught and sentenced to jail, the gambling addicts I met in the prison system had similar stories to mine. They were middle-aged, smart, well-educated men from good upbringings, all addicts to racing and not the pokies — certainly not the stereotypical gambling addicts I had imagined.

My addiction cost me everything. I lost my job, all my material possessions including house, car, everything I owned.

But that pales into insignificance to the lost relationships.

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My marriage disintegrated, I lost access to my children, I don't talk to my family and I'm no longer on speaking terms with most of my friends. I don't blame them.

During my year in jail, I had enough time to reflect on all the damage it had caused and when I was to be released I knew I couldn't go back to that lifestyle.

You get far too much time to reflect in jail. I was constantly thinking about the kids, but I didn't decide to quit gambling because of them. The constant stress and 24/7 of thinking about gambling had destroyed me: physically, emotionally, and financially.

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I knew if I didn't stop gambling it would kill me.

Get help before it's too late

I write this not because I find it a cathartic experience, but because I hope that it helps others to seek help before it's too late. Or for family and friends of addicts to intervene and offer support.

For people 'on the edge' or thinking about committing fraud, the solution is simple: get help.

Seek support before you hit rock bottom. The help that suited me the most was from my psychologist, one-on-one extended chats — but for others it may be Gamblers Anonymous.

For the family and friends of addicts: please don't give up on them, it's a horrendous disease and they need all the support you can give.

Life in 2017 is certainly not perfect, but it's a damn sight better than it has been.

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I've got regular access to my children, I'm rebuilding lost relationships, I've found some temporary work — and I haven't had a bet since 2014.

Topics:gambling, internet-culture, family-and-children, fraud-and-corporate-crime, law-crime-and-justice, australia

First posted September 04, 2017 12:14:41

The 2021 Australian Of The Year odds are out – check them right away as the next ceremony is coming soon. Launched in 1960, the Australian Of The Year award is annually given to exceptional citizens of the country. Who has the best chances to win it in 2021?

Australian Of The Year is one of the most prestigious awards in the country. It is an award that the National Australia Day Council presents to the most valuable Australian citizens. The award has been given out since 1960 with Geoffrey Rush, Tim Flannery, and John Cranword as past recipients. Last year, James Muecke – an eye surgeon who works helping to prevent blindness – got the title of the person of the year. Who leads the odds to win next year? Check the odds atonline gambling sites in Australia.

Australian Of The Year odds in 2021

The next Australian Of The Year award will take place in January 2021. According to 1xBET, odds for seven eminent citizens to win the award next year are out. Let’s see who has the best chances to become the next award recipient.

Dinesh Palipana has third-best winning chances

Dr. Dinesh Palipana has 5.00 to win the award. A senior resident doctor at Gold Coast hospital has previously received the 2021 Queensland Australian of the Year title. Palipana’s contribution to the well-being of the country is essential. During the ongoing year, he has advocated for medical students with disabilities in Australia. As they are still facing difficulties in this field, it is very important to highlight this problem. Also, he stood for equal treatment for people with disabilities during the pandemic. Finally, Dinesh Palipana has recently become a lawyer.

Shane Fitzsimmons may win the award

Shane Fitzsimmons has the second-highest Australian Of The Year odds at online sportsbooks in Australia. He was named the AOTY in New South Wales and is now running 3.50 odds to win the top prize.

Fitzsimmons is a former RFS Commissioner who led Australia through the 2019-20 bushfire season. Citizens praised his contribution to the fire-fighting as well as Shane’s high level of empathy, volunteering, and calmness in such a difficult situation. Therefore, he has a very good chance of winning AOTY.

Brendan Murphy leads the Australian Of The Year odds

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The best odds of 1.65 at 1xBET Sportsbook belong to Professor Brendan Murphy. He is an Australian Of The Year nominee from ACT. Currently, he is a Secretary of the Department of Health as well as a former Government Chief Medical Officer. This year, he did a great job in preventing the spread of COVID-19. It was Murphy who insisted on the closure of international borders that helped to save millions of lives. Considering the circumstances, he is the most likely to become the next AOTY.

You can discover more about 1xBet Sportsbook here.

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