Gambling Industry : A Viable Solution to Economic Recovery?

Gambling is common in all countries across the world, as each culture includes some form of gambling activity that people traditionally enjoy during gatherings. Yet in later years gambling activities began to take place in more sophisticated venues known as private rooms, salons and later in plush casinos. Although the State of Nevada was the first to establish a legal gambling industry, the U.S. does not have the largest number of gamblers nor the most steadfast gambling businesses. The countries that boast of the largest gambling markets are the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, in that particular order.

Gambling in the United Kingdom

The UK tops the list for having the highest number of active gamblers, estimated to total 24 million adults that represent 44% of the country’s entire population. Actually, the UK gambling industry is the largest and strongest as its Gambling Act of 2005 permits gambling in any form, including online gambling and offshore betting.

In terms of economic value, the gambling industry has been good for the country as all casinos, whether land or Internet-based, pay licensing fees and taxes on gross gaming revenues. Although there is gambling addiction, it is not prevalent as only 3.1% of the country’s gamblers had experienced gambling addiction.

While there are numerous non-profit organisations that help problem gamblers overcome their addiction, the UK Gaming Commision has made it mandatory for online casinos to integrate the GamStop self-exclusion program.

Reports have it that the GamStop feature didn’t make much difference to regular casual gamblers. Yet it discouraged former, pre-pandemic land-based casino gamblers from playing at UK licensed online casinos. Many had to reference websites to look for casinos that will not consider their gambling behavior as a potential candidate for a self-exclusion program.

Gambling in Australia

Australia has the second highest number of casino gamblers, as more than 6.8 million Australians, representing 39% of the country’s population, gamble on a daily basis. Unlike in other countries, Australian gamblers do not have to pay taxes on their winnings. Moreover, although online gambling is not legal in the country, Australians can still access offshore-based online gambling sites as they are avid slot machine (pokie) abd card game players.

According to the country’s industry reports. gambling addiction is not a serious problem as only between 0.5% and 1% have experienced gambling addiction. Today, as many as 900 Australian punters have been permanently banned from entering any casino in Australia.

Gambling in Canada

Canada is another nation that is big in gambling but whose gambling industry is not federally regulated. Every Canadian province oversees the vetting, licensing and operations of offline and online casinos in their jurisdiction through their respective gambling authority.

Gamblers showing signs of addiction in every province are closely monitored, and entered into exclusion programs when deemed necessay. As a matter of fact, the overall number of gambling addicts in all provinces is said to total only 250,000, representing only 0.6% of the country’s gambling population.
It can be concluded therefore that a strong and robust gambling industry does not necessarily lead to moral turpitude in a society, As long as the gambling authorities are vigilant in protecting and helping vulnerable individuals overcome their gambling addiction.

Various Businesses Struggling to Survive Due To Covid-19

It’s out in the obvious that the outbreak of Covid-19 has impacted so many businesses just like Agua Caliente Casino Waters Café. Come to think of it, if industries as big as gambling is massively impacted by this pandemic, then what more about the others? Though, if the respective governments of every country will react immediately, there would certainly be a swift and efficient recovery of economics.

Underlying Effect of the Virus

The public health sector is doing its very best to stop the spread of the virus. Else, it is en route to causing direct shock to everything in its path. Thus, a general, international consensus was established, calling the need for self-isolation and social distancing among individuals. This is until the testing was done or the contract tracing system was set in place.

If we’re going to look at it in a short-term basis, the consequences are so profound. However, the damage can be more serious in the long run – the government has to take action in implementing economic policy response.

As a matter of fact, there’s a forecasted high unemployment rate brought by the sudden shift in the economy. Believe it or not, the situation today is almost comparable to the Great Depression. On the other hand, according to the statement of chief US economists Seth Carpenter (non-verbatim), there’s going to be a sharp “V” pattern on the market after everything has settled in although the world’s recovery progress from recession would be staggered.

On his point-of-view, the peak of the virus and lockdown will pass by June. Thing is, the economy will not be entirely ready for it. The rate of unemployment will fall around 10 to 30 percent.

Stricter Implementation, Faster Loss of Employment

While that economic market trend is still yet to have a concrete foundation, what should be given more attention now is the accelerated volume of job loss in late March. This was when several cities have enforced business closures as well as social distancing. Thus, a big portion of the labor-market has seriously experienced the consequences of such action.

As of this writing, there are still obstacles that the government is in shallow waters trying to avoid failure in the economic reboot. Without a doubt, bringing online businesses back will be impossible without even a skeletal workforce. While this means more job opportunities, those who were laid off in March will face new challenges of reentering the market once again.