Sport-starved stay-at-homes will be aware that televised racing goes on, potentially tempting many to risk the budget on the back of a horse for the first time in their lives.
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As a career racing writer over four decades, now retired, I don't recommend it as risk will only compound the hardship already burdened by lost wages.
However, 14 per cent of Australians still smoke, despite dire warnings on those packets of doom, and the desperate will bet, too often ignoring the pleas of betting agencies to "gamble responsibly."
This, for first-time players, is how to do it.
With a commonsense attitude join a reputable online betting agency by investing $20 or $50 if you know losses won't force you to skimp at the supermarket checkout.
Once those funds are exhausted, stop! Never chase the money and remember that "a little bit of luck" never lasts.
Do not back race favourites. Only three out of ten win and dissatisfaction with meagre returns may entice you to risk more.
Favourites win more often than long-shots but 20-1 winners, for example, enable you to pick up attractive odds of about 5-1 for a second or third.
I backed the 2017 Caulfield Cup winner Boom Time at 50-1 because he represented a leading stable and two months later backed Like A Carousel at 50-1 to win the Pakenham Cup.
The latter had been jumping, which invariably sharpens up jaded gallopers returning to flat racing.
Both drew good barriers and were ridden by talented jockeys, Cory Parish and Linda Meech who were underrated at the time.
I hasten to add that I am a small punter. Having five dollars each way (win and place) on long shots does no damage and I average just one bet per day.
I watch for horses wearing blinkers for the first time (it helps concentration) and respect successful jockeys who have travelled long distances for one or two rides.
I never back horses on debut.
Raw punters can't expect to become expert overnight.
There is much to learn about the best and the worst and too much knowledge can lead to pain.
For months I had my eye on a horse called Real Finniss, trained at Moyston by Deanne Taylor and ready to win a race at big odds.
But it was a front-runner, and convinced that it would not run 1800 metres at Terang one day, I dropped off.
It won at odds of 350-1 on bet365.
Rules one and two: don't be an idiot.
Race meetings are scheduled at Warracknabeal on Saturday, the Stawell Gold Cup is on Easter Sunday, and Ararat races next Saturday.
