Is it just me or does anyone else find it obscene that Australians will wager around $150 000 000 today on a horse race?
Posted by Rodney Olsen
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About the author
Rodney Olsen
Rodney is a husband, father, cyclist, blogger and podcaster from Perth Western Australia.
He has worked in radio at Perth's media ministry Sonshine for over 25 years and has previously worked at ministries such as Compassion Australia and Bible Society.
The views he expresses here are his own.
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Me too!
I woke up to the obsenity of it all when I was reading the paper one day. The front page boasted of the 10s of millions of dollar Western Australian waged on the Melbourne cup. Buried in the paper somewhere other than the first few pages was an artlicle about the few 100,000 dollar raised for Cambodia after the settlement that finally isolated Pol Pot.
To my way of thinking the people of Cambodia are worth the millions and 24 horses are worth a small wager. The wage should be like the wagers of some of old Church ladies who like to play poker. They use 5 cents pieces. They cant get one or two peices anymore.
I certainly agree Michael.
Gambling has never been a part of my life so I won’t be putting any money towards the race. However I wouldn’t want to tell people that just because I don’t gamble that they shouldn’t. Their money is not mine to spend.
What gets me, just as you’ve highlighted, is the amount of money that people are wagering. Most of all, many people are putting far more than they can afford on the race in the hope of a big return.
Yes, Your right. I don’t mind a flutter and have a drink but no one could live off my gambling or alcohol comsumption. That the problem with some industries like gambling and liquor. They make profits by exploiting other persons weaknesses. This exploitation leads to misery!
well, it’s just another side of our 1st world economies.
And Oz are known worlwide for their love for gambling.
I still remember the description I read on a book of the many ‘private’ casinos you’ve got all over the country…
take away gambling from Australia and you’re left with a few bushes (provided rabbits haven’t eaten the few left) and a million kangaroos or so!
Sorry to be so ironic but, anyway, don’t you think gambling is almost a National feature of Australia?
Hi. This is my first time to visit your blog. I surfed in from Rita’s blog.
I live in Japan, and I happened to watch an important horse-race called “The Emperor’s Cup” in Japan yesterday. I am not particularly interested in horse-races and I have never gambled. I watched it just because the TV was on at that time. I don’t remember which horse won. It’s interesting that you are talking about the horse-race in Australia, one day after I happened to watch one in Japan on TV.
Well, I know my comment is not to the point. The point is that I would like to visit your blog from time to time.