Top Facts About the Australian Open

Tennis fans from all over the world flock to Australia in the second week of January every year to attend the Australian Open, one of four Grand Slam competitions in professional tennis. The event is held at Melbourne Park and gives a great start to the year in tennis, preceding the Wimbledon, the French Open and the US Open, the other three tennis tournaments making up the Grand Slam.

The tournament, which is the biggest and most important sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere, is also called the Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific and is eagerly awaited and received with much enthusiasm by tennis aficionados each year. The fact that the event recorded the highest attendance at a Grand Slam tournament stands as proof to its popularity. No less than 743,667 people attended the Australian Open in 2018.

When it comes to competition types during the event, it should be mentioned that the tournament includes men’s and women’s singles, men’s, women’s and mixed doubles, as well as junior’s championships. Additionally, there are events dedicated to wheelchair-bound players and legends. The matches are always a popular thing to bet on, and even small sportsbooks such as the World Star offer some odds on them together with their own World Star betting bonus.

In the last decade, the tennis championship has been dominated by the “Big Four”, comprised of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray.

Short history of Australian Open

The Australian Open was first introduced in 1905, when it was called Australasian Championships and was played at the Warehouseman’s Cricket Ground in Melbourne.

In the beginning, it used to take place across different cities in Australia, including Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane, but starting 1987 it was only held in Melbourne. The Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club housed the event from 1972 until 1988, when it moved to a more permanent venue – the Melbourne Park complex.

In the early 20th century, foreign players were a rare sight at the tournament due to the distant geographical location of Australia, but in 1946 several US-based tennis players entered the competition.

Tournament dates

Over time, the dates of the Australian Open fluctuated greatly. This happened mostly in the early years and was due to the fact that this mega tennis event did not have a fixed location and organizers decided the dates based on the climate of each site.

If in 1919, the competition was held in the month of January, the next year it was moved to the middle of March, while in 1923 it took place in August. Actually, the Australian Open didn’t have a fixed date until 1977. From then on, it has always been held over the last fortnight of January each year.

Grass Court vs Hard Court

In its inception, the Australian Open was played on a grass ground. Things didn’t change until 1988 when hard courts began to replace the grass ones. At the moment, this tennis event is played on hard courts, three of which also have retractable roofs, which allows play to continue even in harsh weather conditions, like heavy rain or extreme heat.

Tournament Winners

The Australian Open has come a long way since its beginnings and prominent names in the tennis world have stepped foot on the Melbourne Park floors and displayed their skills and talent. Some of the legends that won this big tournament include Roy Stanley Emerson, Mats Wilander, Kenneth Robert Rosewall, Rod Laver, Rafael Nadar and Roger Federer. As for women that made a name for themselves in Melbourne, worth mentioning are Steffi Graf, Nancy Wynne Bolton, Margaret Smith, and Martina Hingis.

Interesting Facts About Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is one of Sydney’s most famous landmarks and the core of the city’s cultural scene. The performing arts facility is most definitely a fascinating building from both a historical and architectural point of view, which made it one of the most visited and photographed buildings in the whole wide world.

History and location

The opera house is located on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbor in Australia and work on the building first started in 1959, when the base was put together. However, construction work per se only began in 1962 when the designs by Danish architect Jorn Utzon were ready. The official opening took place on October 20, 1973, and Queen Elizabeth II herself was present on the floors. The whole project took 14 years to build and cost a whopping $120 million.

The impressive architectural design with ancient and modernist influences challenged all engineering knowledge at that moment and put some limits to its functions, like the fact that it’s impossible to house a grand opera for its opera stage is too small.


It has, however, seven performance venues. These are the Opera Theatre, Drama Theatre, the Concert Hall, a Playhouse, The Studio, the Forecourt and the Utzon Room, along with bars, restaurants, and even a recording studio.

The 2,679-seat Concert Hall is the largest venue and is designed for symphony concerts, choir performances, and other music shows. Meanwhile, the Opera Theatre hosts dance performances and the other smaller theatres are usually used for film screenings, stage plays and smaller musical performances. Outdoor performances take place on the Forecourt.

For those who don’t know, the multipurpose complex is home to Opera Australia, the Sydney Theatre Company, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, as well as The Australian Ballet. The sail-like building is 187 meters long and 115 meters wide and was erected on 5.798 hectares of land. Most impressive, it sits on a pillar that is said to be the biggest free standing column in the world.

Other facts

Over 8.2 million people come to Sydney to visit the Opera House every year and the performance venues within it host together more than 1,500 performances a year, with more than 1.2 million people in attendance.

The Sydney Opera House is currently managed by the Sydney Opera House Trust and, as of June 28, 2007, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

So if you ever happen to visit Sydney, make sure to go see the Opera House. Besides its majestic architecture, it is one of the most sophisticated and complex entertainment venues in the world. Moreover, the Sydney Opera House organizes daily tours of the building for tourists, who can then just take a walk back towards the city center through the Botanic Gardens.

Betting Advertising Smashes All Records

Betting advertising has defied all predictions and smashed its all-time revenue records. Even though many actions have been taken to curb it, spending on betting ads has reached a whopping number of $282 million.

In Australia, for example, in-play betting was deemed illegal and banned. However, that did not stop a lot of bookmakers to advertise their services during sports matches. As reports show, one in five ads shown during a football match is betting-related. Sometimes, this number goes as high as one out of three ads. Also, the internet has countless offers for esports free bets and other promotions and bonuses.

Betting Advertising Proves Profitable

Betting advertising is proving to be extremely profitable, earning huge money for the betting and gambling industry. Some experts claim this is the result of perfect timing, others say it is the outcome of targeting the weak and vulnerable.

Interestingly enough, betting ads are not seen as frequently during women sports events. These seem to be effective only during the male events, as men are more likely to actually take the corresponding action and place a bet.

During UK football matches, betting advertising is seen in 95% of advertising breaks. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that betting advertising is smashing all records and earning huge profits for the advertisers.

Is Betting Advertising Actually Effective?

This is a question worth answering, as many countries in the world are thinking of imposing new rules and regulations to limit betting ads.

However, the gambling industry reports that these ads have only a “limited impact” on gambling rates. However, the $282 million revenue proves that they are much more effective than that, otherwise, they wouldn’t spend such exorbitant sums of money on it.

Many countries have already decided to stand in the way of betting ads by imposing a regulation stating betting ads can only be shown after 21h. However, there is an exception that allows media companies to air betting ads during sports events, even if they air before the watershed.

We are yet to see how this will impact future revenues. It is highly likely they will suffer greatly, as the biggest portion is shown during matches that take place before the watershed, as was the case during the Football World Cup.

Gambling Advertising Trends

Gambling advertising shows a tendency to grow. For example, in 2016, just shy of $200 million was spent on betting advertising. Just two years later, $80 million dollars were added to that number.

That does not actually surprise since just one ad during a Premiership football match costs around $50,000 dollars

Almost all experts agree that the spending on betting advertisements will surpass $300 million and continue to grow the next year.

However, it remains to be seen what the legislators’ answer will be to this trend, as there are concerns that the pre-watershed exemption means that these ads are also targeting children and young people who are particularly vulnerable.

What Is the Royal Society of Tasmania

The Royal Society of Tasmania has been around for more than 170 years and has done a lot for Australia. This is the first such society founded outside of the UK, which makes it quite special.

Its main mission is the advancement of knowledge on the island. However, its goals and the most important work include:

  • Promoting Tasmania’s scientific, historical, and technological knowledge, with the benefit of Tasmanians in mind.
  • Providing advice for Tasmania-related issues.
  • Cultivating the public engagement of Tasmania in the search for knowledge.
  • Recognizing and supporting the academic excellence of Tasmania.

How It All Began

The Royal Society of Tasmania was founded on October 14, 1843. The founding happened at a meeting that was led by Sir John Eardley-Wilmot, who was Lieutenant Governor at the time.

At first, the Royal Society was founded as the Botanical and Horticultural Society. The first goals of the society were to develop the physical aspects of the island, as well as showcase its productions and natural history.

Since the society was created under a special act of the Tasmanian Parliament, it could create its own by-laws.

One of the biggest early merits of the society was founding and developing the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. They also founded the Royal Society of Tasmania Museum, which houses natural history pieces, as well as contemporary art pieces.

In 1934, Jane Ada Fletcher, an ornithologist, was the first woman to give a public lecture for other members of the society, which was a big moment for the Society’s diversity and recognition of women.

Today, Kate Warner, governor of Tasmania, is the patron of the society.

The Royal Society Today

In 2017, the society had approximately 350 members from all over Tasmania and all walks of life. The meetings are usually held in Launceston and Hobart. The society is led by a council that includes both ex officio and elected members. There are no limits to who can and cannot become a member of the royal society, as it is open to everyone.

The Royal Society of Tasmania is quite active and organizes a lot of activities where it works on its goals and gathers its members. Some of the more common activities include lectures, panel discussions, excursions, symposia, as well as numerous publications.

For its most successful scholars, The Royal Society has bursaries and awards, which allow them to further develop their knowledge and expertise.

There is also an annual journal published by the society called Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania. This is a peer-reviewed journal where its members can publish their theoretical work.

The Royal Society of Tasmania Library

Another big accomplishment of the Royal Society of Tasmania is the library its patrons and members have established.

A new library was opened in 1930, which housed more than 20,000 books at the time. Today, that number is substantially larger.

The location of the library today is the Morris Miller Library in the University of Tasmania. The library keeps many of the most important written works of the society’s members, along with other books on science and other bits of knowledge.

All You Need to Know About the Melbourne Cup

Australia is well-known as one of the most horse-loving countries in the world. It is no wonder when you look at the scale of it – you need to have a good horse to get from one place to another!

The Melbourne Cup is one of the most prestigious horse racing events in all of the southern hemisphere. This is a 3200-meter race, reserved for thoroughbreds that are minimum three years of age.

The race always starts at 3 pm, every first Tuesday of November. This is also known as the time when the whole country stops since hundreds of thousands of people from all around the country and the rest of the world flock to watch the races.

In addition, there are many offers for bonus codes and promotions around this time. In order to find the best ones, reading the review of Ladbrokes or some other bookmaker will always come in handy!

Qualifying Terms and Races

The race takes place at the Remington Racecourse and only thoroughbreds of 3 years and more can enter. The bottom handicap weight limit is 50kg, but there is no upper weight limit. However, the maximum allocated weight cannot be less than 57kg.

The Melbourne Cup is a handicap event. This means that the total weight of the jockey and his riding equipment is adjusted using a certain amount of ballast. The ballast weight is chosen by considering the age of the horse and the horse’s previous results.

It’s All About the Prizes

The love toward beautiful thoroughbred horses plays a major role in the popularity of the Melbourne Cup. However, the incredible money prizes play a significant part as well.

The average total prize pool is usually between six and seven million dollars. That’s definitely a number worth contesting for.

The first 10 places get a piece of this huge prize. The winner, of course, gets the biggest chunk, equalling $3.6 million. The owner of the horse gets 85% of the prize, the trainer is entitled to 10%, while the jockey gets just 5%.

The Trophies Throughout the History

The first Melbourne Cup was held in 1861. The winner of this first contest won a gold watch. That was a big prize at the time but compared to today, it’s trifle.

After that, in 1865, the first Melbourne Cup Trophy was awarded to the winner. However, contrary to today’s practices, the winner was awarded a silver bowl.

Today, a new gold Melbourne Cup Trophy is made every year and given to the winner as their own property. Since horse races can end up in a close tie, there is always a second trophy at hand.

Since 2003, the Melbourne Cup Trophy has been taken on an annual tour around Australia to be presented to different communities, who otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to see it.

How Climate Change Affects Oceania

Climate change is becoming an increasingly pressing issue, affecting more and more people in the world. The effects of climate change are noticeable everywhere in the world; however, they are most easily spotted in the coastal areas, such as Oceania.

The ones suffering the most from this man-made phenomenon are coastal communities in Oceania whose homes are being destroyed by rising sea levels and erosion.

Unfortunately, these are not the only changes these people are facing on a day-to-day basis. Let’s take a closer look at the other ones.

Abandoned Homes

Communities who are living on the Pacific coast rim and who have lived there for centuries and generations are being forced out of their homes. For example, on the Torres Strait Islands, 15 communities have been identified as being at risk of rising sea levels. This is alarming, since these are the people who most stick to the rules of nature and for whom the sea is the whole world.

The same thing is happening in Papua New Guinea, where 30-35 communities need to move to a higher ground or completely relocate if they want to save their lives.

Destroyed Food and Fresh Water Sources

The oceans, including their volume, temperature, and chemistry are changing. The sea is becoming hotter and hotter, which is unpleasant both for marine life and for people. The locals are reporting that there are less and less fish, and the ones they manage to catch are not good to eat. Dead fish washing up on the shores is becoming a regular occurrence.

Irresponsible land use that does not care for the environment and the local communities is causing people to the very edge of survival. The actions that are affecting the sea and the communities in Oceania the most are oil and gas production, sea-bed mining, logging, and palm oil plantations.

What Can Be Done to Remedy the Situation

There are numerous organizations throughout Oceania who are trying to help people deal with the changes they are experiencing. For instance, these organizations teach communities in Samoa and Tonga how to maintain sustainable fishing practices and how to prepare for the prolonged droughts or extreme rainfall that they will surely soon experience.

Many communities are building stronger houses and installing wind turbines and solar panels to prepare for the oncoming issues. However, this all might be in vain if the rest of the world does not change their practices and standpoint on life as well.

Is Gambling Legal in Australia?

Australians have been called on several occasions “the world’s biggest gamblers,” which might be an indication that gambling laws in the country are on the liberal side. And indeed, there is no law to prohibit gambling services in Australia. Residents are free to try their hand at the game of chance of their choice both in brick-and-mortar casinos and online casinos.

So the short answer to the question posed in the title is that it is completely legal for people to gamble in Australia. And it seems that locals do not hold back at all, as the country has the highest gambling rate in the world, with more than 80% of adults in Australia engaging in some kind of gambling activity. Many of them use sites that detail promo code conditions, such as, even though they are from foreign countries.

As for gambling laws, regulation of the Australian gambling industry is done on two levels: the central government supervises the activity and is responsible for amending relevant general laws, while different regional authorities deal with regulation at state and territorial level. Some of these include: ACT Gambling and Racing Commission, Licensing Commission in Northern Territory, New South Wales Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing, and more.

It’s also important to mention that winnings from gambling in Australia are not taxed mainly because gambling is considered just a hobby, not a profession, so any gain from this recreational activity does not qualify as income, and because the government does tax gambling service operators.

Real-life Casinos

On the territory of Australia, there are numerous licensed brick-and-mortar casinos where people can gamble legally. These venues usually offer poker games, as well as table, cards and electronic games. Besides that, video poker machines (known as “pokies”) and slot games are also a common sight in bars, pubs and clubs all over the country.

Online gambling

Currently, online gambling operations are not legal in Australia. This is due to the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill of 2016, which was passed in 2017. The act basically prohibits online casinos from providing gambling services over the Internet to Australians. Exceptions can only be made if the player presents a license issued by the Australian government in this respect.

However, there are enough gambling operators based overseas that do accept Australian customers. This means that people who really want to go online to quench their thirst for gambling, have a lot of options at their disposal.

Authorities in the field believe that online casinos will be legalized sometime in the future, especially considering that, at the moment, the government is losing significant amounts of money in tax revenue to offshore operators.

Sports Betting

Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA), it is illegal to offer or advertise “real money” online interactive gambling services, including here casino games and online poker. However, not all online gambling is banned, as sports betting through licensed operators is permitted as long as the betting is done before the start of the sporting event. This means that live “in-play” betting is considered “interactive”. Nonetheless, Australians can engage in live “in-play” betting through overseas betting providers.