If you think the United States is the world’s gambling capital, with its massive casino resorts in Atlanta, Las Vegas and the Indian reserves, you’d be wrong. In fact the United States doesn’t even register amongst the top 10 gaming nations in the world, with that prize going to some of obvious contenders, and a couple of surprise candidates.
Spain wouldn’t seem like an obvious contender for one of the world’s gambling capitals until you take into account the fact that the Spanish traditionally gamble with their own bodies in bullfights and the annual running of the bulls in Pamplona. As it turns out the Spanish also like to take safer bets on football and the lottery, supporting one of the largest gambling industries on the planet.
Consider Nick The Greek Dandalos, the legendary gambler who’s estimated to have won and squandered an estimated $500 million in the course of his gambling career, and you’ll have some idea why Greece might figure on this list. Perhaps it’s no accident that Greece was one of the centers of the world financial crisis, and we’re tempted to wonder how much of their football betting and lottery gambling tab was put on credit.
Norwegians live in one of the world’s most prosperous, efficient nations. In a place where everything works like clockwork, it’s perhaps unsurprising to learn that Norwegians go in search of excitement in their local casino, where they spend billions on slots machines every year. A quirk of the Norwegian gambling industry is that much of it is operated by the State Department for Churches.
Gambling in Hong Kong is heavily regulated, but the residents of the small island nevertheless manage to spend billions on the industry every year. Throngs of them travel to the neighbouring gambling oasis of Macau each year, while the remainder put their money into the country’s excellent horseracing industry, as well as the national lottery and live betting pools.
Italy has made some important contributions to the world of gambling, giving the world the game of baccarat, and hosting the world’s first ever state-approved casino. While controls on gambling have tightened in recent decades, the country still bets heavily on the state lottery, as well as football matches. The latter tendency is partly responsible for the numerous match fixing scandals that have afflicted the sport in that country.
All gambling in Finland is run by three major gambling monopolies, one of which is effectively a front organization for the Department of Education. Until recently Finns, who have little else to do during their 9 month long winter, were able to begin gambling at the age of 15, and some casinos even offer free gambling addiction counselling sessions to unlucky gamers who meet the terms of this ‘bonus’.
Another cold clime finds itself in the top ten, with Canada coming close to cracking the top three gambling nations on the planet. While Canada’s gambling legislation is almost as draconian as that of the United States, there are plenty of loopholes available for Canadians to speculate with their money. The largest of these is the state lottery, which makes several billion dollars a year in revenue.
Ireland’s inclusion in the top three should come as no surprise, as the Irish lust for gambling is the stuff of legends. Whether it’s a game of schoolyard marbles or the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Irish love their betting. While sports betting is a major industry in the country – with bookmaker ads aired on primetime television – most of their gambling money is sunken into casinos.
One of the world’s most affluent nations is also one of its biggest gaming centers. In fact the gaming industry in Singapore is expected to surpass that of Las Vegas before the end of this decade. The popularity of gambling in Singapore has caused alarm amongst government officials, who have attempted to regulate the industry more strictly by making it more expensive to gamble – which has not dissuaded Singaporeans from their gambling in the least.
One event in Australia does a good job of explaining why Australia sits at the top of this list. Every year the nation stops dead in its tracks for the running of the Melbourne Cup, a Group 1 horse race. The day is an official public holiday across the country, and crowds of over 120,000 people have attended the event. Most remarkably, it is estimated that 80% of the adult population bets on the race every year. And that’s just racing. In addition to a healthy sports betting industry, Australians spend billions on slot machines every year.
10. Spain
Spain wouldn’t seem like an obvious contender for one of the world’s gambling capitals until you take into account the fact that the Spanish traditionally gamble with their own bodies in bullfights and the annual running of the bulls in Pamplona. As it turns out the Spanish also like to take safer bets on football and the lottery, supporting one of the largest gambling industries on the planet.
9. Greece
Consider Nick The Greek Dandalos, the legendary gambler who’s estimated to have won and squandered an estimated $500 million in the course of his gambling career, and you’ll have some idea why Greece might figure on this list. Perhaps it’s no accident that Greece was one of the centers of the world financial crisis, and we’re tempted to wonder how much of their football betting and lottery gambling tab was put on credit.
8. Norway
Norwegians live in one of the world’s most prosperous, efficient nations. In a place where everything works like clockwork, it’s perhaps unsurprising to learn that Norwegians go in search of excitement in their local casino, where they spend billions on slots machines every year. A quirk of the Norwegian gambling industry is that much of it is operated by the State Department for Churches.
7. Hong Kong
Gambling in Hong Kong is heavily regulated, but the residents of the small island nevertheless manage to spend billions on the industry every year. Throngs of them travel to the neighbouring gambling oasis of Macau each year, while the remainder put their money into the country’s excellent horseracing industry, as well as the national lottery and live betting pools.
6. Italy
Italy has made some important contributions to the world of gambling, giving the world the game of baccarat, and hosting the world’s first ever state-approved casino. While controls on gambling have tightened in recent decades, the country still bets heavily on the state lottery, as well as football matches. The latter tendency is partly responsible for the numerous match fixing scandals that have afflicted the sport in that country.
5. Finland
All gambling in Finland is run by three major gambling monopolies, one of which is effectively a front organization for the Department of Education. Until recently Finns, who have little else to do during their 9 month long winter, were able to begin gambling at the age of 15, and some casinos even offer free gambling addiction counselling sessions to unlucky gamers who meet the terms of this ‘bonus’.
4. Canada
Another cold clime finds itself in the top ten, with Canada coming close to cracking the top three gambling nations on the planet. While Canada’s gambling legislation is almost as draconian as that of the United States, there are plenty of loopholes available for Canadians to speculate with their money. The largest of these is the state lottery, which makes several billion dollars a year in revenue.
3. Ireland
Ireland’s inclusion in the top three should come as no surprise, as the Irish lust for gambling is the stuff of legends. Whether it’s a game of schoolyard marbles or the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Irish love their betting. While sports betting is a major industry in the country – with bookmaker ads aired on primetime television – most of their gambling money is sunken into casinos.
2. Singapore
One of the world’s most affluent nations is also one of its biggest gaming centers. In fact the gaming industry in Singapore is expected to surpass that of Las Vegas before the end of this decade. The popularity of gambling in Singapore has caused alarm amongst government officials, who have attempted to regulate the industry more strictly by making it more expensive to gamble – which has not dissuaded Singaporeans from their gambling in the least.
1. Australia
One event in Australia does a good job of explaining why Australia sits at the top of this list. Every year the nation stops dead in its tracks for the running of the Melbourne Cup, a Group 1 horse race. The day is an official public holiday across the country, and crowds of over 120,000 people have attended the event. Most remarkably, it is estimated that 80% of the adult population bets on the race every year. And that’s just racing. In addition to a healthy sports betting industry, Australians spend billions on slot machines every year.