Australia Gambling Statistics

Statistics on Gambling in Australia

In recent years, online gambling has surged in popularity in Australia, providing entertainment but also posing various challenges. Our comprehensive study explores the growth of Australia’s iGaming industry, analyzing trends in revenue, per capita gambling expenditure, and player participation rates across different games, with a breakdown by gender.

Popularity of Gambling in Australia

Since the first casino opened in Australia, gambling regulations have typically restricted play to individuals over 18 years of age. Nevertheless, the Australian states have witnessed diverse trends in adult gambling habits and spending across various services. According to a report by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) in March 2023, about 73% of the adult population engaged in gambling activities involving money.

According to Australian Institute of Health and Warfare, adult Australians participated in a range of gambling products including lotteries and scratchies (64%), various types of race betting such as horse racing, harness racing, and greyhound racing (39%), sports betting (34%), and pokies or slot machines (33%). The chart below provides more details about adult involvement in these different gambling categories.

Approximately 38% of adult Australians gambled on a weekly basis, with notable differences between genders (48% for men and 28% for women). Regular gambling was more prevalent among adults aged 18–54 compared to those aged 55 and over, except for lotteries and scratchies, which were most popular among the older demographic.

The survey revealed that men were more likely to gamble across all products included in the study (such as sports betting, racing, and pokies). Men also tended to gamble more frequently, spend more money, and were more likely to experience gambling-related risk in the past year.

How the Gambling Sector Boosts Australia’s Economy

Revenue from gambling taxes plays a crucial role in bolstering state economies. This financial boost helps fund initiatives aimed at promoting responsible gambling and establishing support services for gamblers. A recent study by the Australasian Gaming Council (AGC) revealed significant economic benefits, including job creation, stemming from sectors such as online casinos, horse racing, sports betting, lotteries, and the land-based slot machine industry.

According to data gathered by the AGC on Australian online gambling, let’s look at how the gambling sector impacted the economy during the 2019-20 period:

Specifically, casinos have generated a remarkable $2,491 million. Meanwhile, companies producing gaming and vending machines have added $216 million to the economy. The world of horse and greyhound racing has also played a substantial role, contributing $778 million. Additionally, the combined efforts of horse and sports betting have resulted in a contribution of $1,259 million. Lastly, lotteries/scratchies have made a notable impact by contributing $1,995 million.

“According to reports, the gambling sector contributed a sum of $2,273,000 to the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission. This revenue was allocated across various funds.”

https://austgamingcouncil.org.au/sites/default/files/2023-07/6_AGC_FactSheet_Contribution_V2_Final.pdf

How Australians Choose to Access Gambling Platforms by Device

Australians have a preference for using their smartphones over desktops for online gambling, thanks to websites optimized for mobile use that provide an experience similar to what you’d find on a computer. Preferences vary when it comes to the devices used for gambling, with mobile phones being the top choice for many.

In 2019, statistics showed that over half of Australia’s population, precisely 55.3%, opted to gamble online using their smartphones. The remainder engaged in this activity through various other devices, such as desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and gaming consoles.

Engaging in Online Gambling: An Australian Perspective

Recent statistics reveal a significant rise in gambling activity among Australians, showing a jump from 8.1% in 2011 to 17.5% in 2019. This marks an impressive increase of 116%. It’s clear that gambling’s popularity in Australia is expected to continue growing substantially.

Gambling Expenditure

In the fiscal year 2019–20, Australia’s total gambling expenditure (net losses) amounted to $21.2 billion, marking a decrease from $25.9 billion in 2018–19 and $22.9 billion in 2001–02. It is important to highlight that the reduction in total gambling expenditure in 2019–20 primarily reflects declines in land-based gambling, such as a 29% decrease in casino gambling and a 21% drop in slot machine spending in pubs and clubs. These decreases were largely due to temporary venue closures imposed during the COVID-19 restrictions.

Over the period from 2001–02 to 2019–20, pokies machines in pubs and clubs consistently accounted for 48–60% of Australia’s total gambling expenditure. This was followed by casino gambling, which contributed 15–23%, wagering at 13–22%, lotteries at 8–12%, Keno at less than 2%, and other gaming at less than 1%.

During the 2019–20 period, per capita gambling expenditure/losses in Australia were estimated at approximately $1,068, a decrease from $1,324 in 2018–19. Over the years, there has been a declining trend in per capita expenditure on poker machines, although they still account for the majority of losses. Conversely, per capita spending on wagering, which includes races, sports, and other events, has been on the rise.

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