🌏 The Evolution of Australian Bookies
📜 Early Beginnings (1800s – 1900s)
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1830s: The introduction of horse racing and informal betting practices among settlers.
Year Event 1830 The first official horse race held in Sydney. -
1880s: Emergence of ‘bookmakers’ who would take bets at racetracks.
Year Event 1882 First licensed bookmakers appear in Australia.
🎩 The Legalization Era (1900s – 1960s)
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1906: Introduction of the Betting Act, regulating bookmakers and betting.
Year Event 1906 Australian government enacts the Betting Act, formalizing the industry. -
1945: The establishment of Totalizator Agency Board (TAB).
Year Event 1945 Creation of TAB to regulate and promote betting on horse racing.
🏢 Modernization & Technology (1970s – 2000s)
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1980s: The rise of electronic betting systems and phone betting.
Year Event 1985 First electronic betting terminals introduced at racetracks. -
1994: Online betting begins to change the landscape.
Year Event 1994 Launch of the first online betting platforms in Australia.
📈 Recent Developments (2010s – Present)
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2013: Regulation changes for online betting operators.
Year Event 2013 Stricter licensing requirements for online bookies introduced. -
2020: The impact of COVID-19 on betting practices.
Year Event 2020 Shift towards online betting due to lockdowns; expansion of services.