Australia's Gambling Industry: Key Trends, Figures, and Impact

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Australia is one of the leading countries in the world when it comes to its population’s involvement in gambling. Unfortunately, it is also one of the world’s leading financial losers from gambling.

This article reviews the current status of the gambling industry in Australia, focusing on both land-based gambling and online gambling, including key statistics, trends, and financial indicators.

What Types of Gambling Are Popular Among Australian Players?

Australians are fond of various types of gambling, both online and offline. Statistics show that 38% of the adult population gambles at least once a week, with men (48%) engaging more than women (28%).

The percentage breakdown of the popularity of different types of gambling online is as follows:

Lotteries and scratch cards – 64%;
Horse racing bets – 38%;
Sports betting – 34%;
Slot machines – 33%.

While online poker has seen a surge in popularity due to the availability of mobile-friendly platforms, fast-paced variants like Zoom Poker, and lucrative promotions, including freeroll tournaments, it remains one of the less participated forms of gambling.

As for gambling expenditures, they tend to remain consistent across the different types of products, with Australians spending about the same amount of money on them. Men, however, tend to spend more evenly across these areas, whereas women tend to spend more on casino games.

Here’s the average daily spending for both groups:

Product	Men	Women
Sports Betting	A$83	A$53
Racing	A$93	A$63
Other Gambling	A$109	A$92

Gambling Participation Among the Adult Population

A survey from 2022 revealed that 78% of the adult population in Australia participated in gambling at least once in the past 12 months, and of these, 38% engaged in gambling activities weekly.

It’s important to note that online gambling saw significant growth during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, as lockdowns and restrictions pushed more people toward online platforms. The average share of online players rose to 78% during that period.

Today, more than half of the adult population in Australia is actively involved in some form of gambling.

Problem Gambling: About 1% of Australia’s adult population is classified as problem gamblers who suffer great addiction and harm from gambling, while nearly 46% of all gamblers are at some risk of harm.
Regional Gambling Habits: Most gamblers are concentrated in New South Wales, with the highest turnover in this region, equal to Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia combined. Sydney is home to the most active players.

Financial Indicators

According to a report by iGaming Business, the total volume of wagers in Australia (including offline and online gambling) during the 2022-2023 financial year reached A$244.3 billion. At the same time, the country is facing significant problems related to gambling losses, which total over A$25 annually.

Pokies (Slot Machines): Slot machines account for over 70% of total wagers in Australia. They represent a substantial portion of gambling revenue, with around 50% of the overall revenue coming from this gambling type.
Sports Betting: The market reached an estimated A$6.81 billion in 2024 and is projected to have a year-by-year growth of 22.10% from 2025 to 2034, potentially reaching A$50.15 billion by 2034. Much of this is driven by the increasing popularity of online sports betting.
Lotteries and Scratch Cards: They remain a major contributor to overall gambling revenue.
Table Games: Traditional table games like blackjack and roulette, along with live dealer games, generate significant, though slightly lesser, revenue compared to other forms of gambling.
Online Gambling: Online gambling turnover increased by 165.7% between 2022 and 2023, reaching A$75.4 billion, accounting for about 31% of the total gambling revenue in the country

Online Gambling Market in Australia

The online gambling market in Australia has shown significant growth, with a current market volume of A$5.68 billion as of 2024. The growth is mainly driven by sports betting and slot gaming, with an increasing number of operators targeting Aussie players (both licensed and unlicensed).

The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the market is expected to be 7.89% from 2025 to 2034, suggesting the sector will continue to expand rapidly. By 2034, the market is projected to reach A$11.06 billion.

Gambling Regulation in Australia

Gambling regulation in Australia is structured across federal, state, and territorial levels, with a particular emphasis on online gambling.

The Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) of 2001 remains the cornerstone of online gambling regulation. It prohibits unlicensed operators from offering services in Australia.
The IGA ensures consumer protection measures are in place, including restrictions on advertising, promotions, and the availability of certain games.

While the IGA has been foundational in regulating gambling in Australia, there are growing calls for updates to the framework to better address the modern gambling landscape. Specific concerns raised by critics include:

In-play betting: The rise of live betting has outpaced regulatory controls, with calls to tighten advertising restrictions and ensure that these bets are fair and transparent.
Cryptocurrency gambling: As cryptocurrency continues to grow in popularity, there are concerns over its use in gambling sites. Critics argue for better regulation of cryptocurrency gambling to address issues like anti-money laundering, consumer protection, and fairness.
Mobile gambling platforms: The increasing shift towards mobile apps and mobile-friendly gambling sites has led to concerns about the ease with which players can access gambling services anywhere, raising issues regarding addiction, underage gambling, and monitoring.

In response to these concerns, there are calls to modernize the system to balance consumer protection with the growth of the industry. This includes reviewing current laws and possibly introducing new measures to keep pace with technological advancements.

Social and Economic Impact of Gambling in Australia

The gambling industry in Australia has significant social and economic implications. Gambling addiction remains a rising concern, with 1% of Australians experiencing problem gambling.

Additionally, Australians lose over A$25 billion annually to legal gambling activities, which ranks among the highest per capita gambling losses globally.

The Australian government, along with NGOs, has implemented various programs to help individuals manage gambling addiction. One key measure is BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register, which allows individuals to exclude themselves from all Australian-licensed online and phone gambling services at once.

Other self-exclusion options are available on individual online gambling sites, providing additional flexibility for players seeking help. Support services like Gambling Help Online and Gamblers Anonymous also offer counseling and resources for those struggling with gambling addiction.

Despite these efforts, there is growing concern about the social costs of gambling, with increasing calls for stronger responsible gambling measures and greater community awareness of its impact.

Conclusion

Based on current trends, online gambling in Australia is becoming increasingly popular, but the overall gambling market is still dominated by land-based activities. Australians will continue to engage in gambling at a high rate, making it an essential sector for both the economy and regulation.

The Australian public needs to be aware of the risks involved, particularly as the financial impact continues to grow. It’s important to remember the rules of responsible gaming: play responsibly, set limits, only play with money you can afford to lose, don’t chase losses, and don’t play under the influence of drugs.

The State of Gambling in Australia: Trends, Impact, and Regulation