Pokies, poker and horses all contribute to Australia’s $18 billion annual gambling addiction. Fortunately for us there is a much smarter bet. It’s called Investment Property.

We all love a winner and we all have fun at Melbourne Cup time, when the country splurges $220 million on the nose of a horse. That’s the happy side of what for most people is an annual flutter on the horses. What a day! It was ‘Shocking’!

However, there is another side to gambling, particularly for those with a compulsion or addiction. Without wanting to sound ‘anti-gambling’, we thought we would set out the 180-degree difference between the mindset of a problem gambler and that of a property investor.

There's no doubt that serious property investors devote lots of time and effort to setting their goals, developing the right strategies, and then making sure that they do everything right. If their efforts are great, so too are the rewards that grow over time.

Gamblers also have a goal. They are looking for a lucky strike, a big win, the payout that will feed their habit and enable a big jump in wealth. To enable a few to win, however, many must lose, and this is the source of the problem.

So, while you may have had a flutter in the Melbourne Cup this year – and here’s hoping that Lady Luck was on your side! – it’s worth noting that for some people, a flutter is never enough. I can’t imagine looking for a winner every day. Could you? Not when there’s such a potent growth alternative: investment property. Which comes with comparatively minimal risk as well.