The dark side of the Cup: Talking about problems with gambling

The Melbourne Cup is Australia's most well known annual horse race. The race is marked with a public holiday in Victoria, and many companies across states opt to give workers half a day off, as punters gather across pubs, clubs, offices and racetracks. Often referred to as 'the race that stops a nation', the Melbourne Cup has been an active part of Australian culture since 1861, but with its roots deep in gambling culture, the glitz and glamour of the races hides a darker truth. It is estimated that last year, on Flemington Racecourse alone, home of the Melbourne Cup, 350 million dollars was spent on gambling. But the Cup isn't the only gambling hotspot; pokies brought in around 372 million dollars last year. To speak more about issues surrounding gambling, particularly addiction and breaking the cycle, SBS Radio Serbian Program is joined by Marina Čelebić from the Serbian Community Association of Australia and psychologist Verica Semjonov.

Marina Čelebić and Verica Semjonov Source: Biljana Ristić