FOR many Australians, punting on the horses is exclusively a springtime activity.
But not anymore.
A long winter of lockdown has resulted in a dramatic increase in gambling, with the horse racing industry cashing in on so many being stuck idle at home on Saturdays in front of the TV.
I should know, I’ve been one of them, using punting as a tool to connect with mates through our phones during the day.
We put on our quaddies and discuss form lines like Bruce McAvaney.
There is an innocent fun in having our guilty pleasure on a Saturday afternoon.
But the underlying issue is that for a lot of men, in particular, gambling habits are being quietly formed.
Figures show that gambling since the pandemic began is more than 50 per cent higher that it was at the start of the year.
This is despite poker machine venues being shut.
Online gambling apps have exploded. And it’s not just the horses that are being punted on, with the number of online poker players also increasing dramatically.
The long-term ramifications of the government’s strict locking down of our society are far reaching – and the rise in gambling will form part of the fallout.
It’s why state governments must continue to open up their states to more activities.
The loss of sport has been a large contributor in so many people sitting idle and turning to outlets such as gambling to relieve the boredom. Or drinking more at home.
Here in Sunraysia, having the river closed to Victorians due to bureaucratic border madness has also taken a healthy weekend pursuit away for many.
Given the river belongs to NSW, fishing and water sports out on the Murray have been banned for Victorians, all in the name of stopping the spread of a virus. (When we look back at the handling of the coronavirus in years to come, surely that particular ban will be near the top of the list of our most ridiculous measures. Mind you, there are plenty of contenders).
Sports such as basketball and cricket are also still in limbo given players live on both sides of the border. Our local leagues still have no idea when they can start seasons.
The madness needs to end.
We need governments to get our society active again.
Our long-term health is at stake and that’s something we should not gamble on.Stop shaming Melbourne
THERE is a growing anti-Melbourne sentiment in regional places like Sunraysia that needs to stop.
While there is a fear of Melbourne people bringing the virus into COVID-free zones, some of the commentary that flies around on social media is not just unsavoury, but lacks any sense of empathy towards what the majority of city folk are living through right now.
I rang my aunty for her birthday this week. She is in her 50s and lives alone in a small apartment in south-east Melbourne.
Since March, she has been working from home. Alone. On her birthday, she took the day off working from home so she could relax at home. Alone.
This week, the Victorian Government has released her from her home to exercise for two hours per day, up from one.
Oh, and Premier Daniel Andrews has also allowed people like my aunty to nominate one “bubble buddy” who they can invite over to their house.
My aunty is a very social person, so this year has taken a heavy emotional toll, but thanks to Dan, she can identify one “bestie” to hang with.
What an awkward conversation to have with another single person in their 50s? What if they say ‘no’, that they have already found another friend. It’s like being the last picked in a primary school team. The whole concept is ridiculously inhumane and surely makes us a laughing stock across the world, if it wasn’t so real and sad for people like my aunty.
For country regions like Sunraysia, which rely heavily on domestic tourism, the message to the people in Melbourne right now should not be “stay away”.
Instead, it should be like I told my aunty: “We’re thinking of you and we can’t wait for you to come up and visit.”
