Western Australia, which comprises one-third of the Australian mainland, is, as expected, positioned on the western side of the continent. Despite being the biggest state in the nation, the majority of the geographical area is sparsely inhabited; only the south-western region, which contains the city of Perth, has a sizable population. Approximately 2,6 million people reside here, and the economy depends significantly on tourism and natural resource extraction.
Western Australia is not one of the nation’s most active regions in the gambling business, like New South Wales or Queensland. Still, there is one large casino in Perth, and if you know where to search, you can find the majority of other popular gambling alternatives such as sports betting, lotteries, and horse racing. In addition, licensed online sportsbooks are operating in the United States, and many people love playing on foreign sites that provide access to real-money casino games and poker.
A Resort in Perth Is the Jewel of the Crown
The sole running casino in Western Australia is situated in Perth, and it was conceived in 1984. The resort, then known as the Burswood Island Casino, opened to the public in the dying days of 1985.
Since then, the site has been acquired by James Packer’s Crown Limited, which currently owns and operates the Crown Perth, also known as the Crown Perth. The resort has undergone many rounds of renovations since it initially opened, and today has up to 2,400 machines (mainly pokies) and hundreds of table games. In addition, many venues, such as the Crown Theatre and a Grand Ballroom, provide events and entertainment for guests. There are also dozens of eateries and a hotel with almost 1,200 rooms on the property.
However, it is unusual to see so many gaming options outside of the Crown. In fact, it is the only area in the state where pokies are permitted, since all 1,750 poker machines in the region are located there. It is the strictest ban on pokies in Australia, since every other state has at least permitted some of the machines to be put in clubs, if not also hotels, bars, and other areas. While some have called for the use of these games to generate cash for the state and other organizations, the government has so far rejected efforts to broaden the scope of these games.
Racing and Wagering Western Australia oversees racing in the state, with Perth Racing serving as the premier club. Ascot Racecourse is the most significant track in the state, since it holds the only three Group 1 races conducted in this region: the Kingston Town Classic, the WATC Derby, and the Railway Stakes. The Perth Cup, which is conducted annually on January 1st, is possibly the most popular race. The Group 2 handicap event provides a prize pool of $500,000 and has been held virtually annually since 1887.
Greyhound racing is also thriving in this state, which has mostly spared the scandals that have plagued the sport in other areas of the nation. There are now just three tracks that host dog racing, including Cannington, Mandurah, and Northam, with Greyhounds WA overseeing the sector.
Lotterywest is a retailer of lottery tickets and other lottery-related items. Tattersall’s has taken over the operations for the other states, making this the only state-owned and -operated lottery organization in Australia. For the typical consumer, however, this makes no difference: locals have access to a variety of state-wide and national games and draws, including Powerball, Set for Life, and the Oz Lotto, as well as soccer pools and many other alternatives.
Online Gambling is in Part Regulated
Online gambling is thriving in this state, as it is across the whole of Australia. However, there are two distinct industries: one consists of regulated operators and the other of offshore operators. Which one you select will rely significantly on the kind of game you choose to play.