Table of Contents

Preface

Part 1 The Luck Myth

1 Introduction: The Lucky

2 Drought, Doubt and Diggers: The Historic Influences on Australian Gambling

3 The Wild Colonial Boys: The Mythology of Australian Gambling

4 Micks and Wowsers: 200 Years of Gambling

Part 2 On a Roll

5 Leading the Field: The Growth of Commercial Gambling

6 The Home Turn Straightened: The Commercialisation of Australian Gambling

7 The Gambler: Who Gambles and Why

Part 3 The Public Punt: Governments Turn to Gambling

8 You Asked for It! Democracy and Demand

9 Taking Lollies from Babies: Governments and Communities under Pressure

10 The Habit: Governments and Gambling Tax

11 The Convergence of Interest: How Gambling Gets Its Way

Part 4 Weighing the Odds

12 That's Progress! The Impacts of Commercial Gambling

13 Backing the Future: The Horse Has Bolted. Wanna Bet?

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Promotional Information

Commended: Australian Christian Book of the Year Awards 2001.

About the Author

The Rev Tim Costello is a lawyer and a minister at the Collins St Baptist Church, and Director of the Church's Urban Mission Unit, which extends outreach services to the Melbourne city community. In 1999 he was appointed President of the Baptist Union of Australia. His social activism and comment on public issues are reprted regularly in the national media and widely read in his books, Streets of Hope and Tips from a Travelling Soul-Searcher. Some of his ore public roles have included Mayor of St Kilda, representative at the Constitutional Convention, ambassador for the Council of Aboriginal Reconciliation and member of the Interchurch Gambling Taskforce. Tim's work on the gambling issue has allowed him a frontline role in the contemporary debate and access to sensitive material about gambling and its consequences. He lives in Melbourne with his wife and three teenaged children, and when his hectic schedule allows, enjoys reading, political and theological debate, films,