Australia Gambling Statistics & Trends 2024
Gambling in Australia is one of the biggest entertainment markets in the country, with the majority of revenues generated by sports betting and electronic gaming machines locally known as “pokies“.
In fact, almost half of all Australians over the legal age for gambling take part in some form of gambling activity each year. Meanwhile Australians lose approximately $1,635 each year to gambling with total losses amounting to $24 billion. This is up from $1,200 in 2020.
Australian Legal Gambling Segments
- Sports betting (online and in-person)
- Casino gambling(in-person only)
- Electronic gaming machines/pokies (in-person only)
- Lotteries (online and in-person)
Australian Gambling Participation
- 46% of Australians aged 18 and over participated in some form of gambling in the past year.
- Men are generally more likely to gamble than women. Participation is higher among younger adults (18-34 years) compared to older age groups, except in horse racing, where participants aged 55+ are equally active.
- 39% of adults gambled in a typical month, with higher rates of problem gambling among those engaged in poker, electronic gaming, and race/sports betting.
- 88% of sports bettors are male.
- 75% of sports bettors are aged between 18 and 49.
- 70% of sports bettors are working full-time.
- The highest participation rates of pokie machines was seen among adults aged 35-64.
- Around 126 million
Frequency and Platforms
- 38% of adults gambled at least weekly.
- 48% of men gamble weekly.
- 28% of women gamble weekly.
- 34% of gamblers place sports bets and horse racing wagers in person.
- 42% of gamblers use smartphones for betting on sports and racing.
- 22% of gamblers use desktop computers for betting on sports and racing.
Australian Gambling Expenditure Stats
The average expenditure in a typical session varies by gambling type.
- Sports betting costs $83 per session.
- Horse Racing Wagering costs $93 per session.
- Pokies and casino games cost $109 per session.
- Men tend to spend more on gambling than women across all types.
- The average expenditure per sports bettor was around $1,300 annually.
- The average losses per gambler was around $1,635 annually.
Gambling Harm in Australia
- Almost half (46%) of those who gambled were classified as being at risk of gambling harm in the past year. The risk is higher among frequent gamblers, especially those engaged in sports betting, racing, and pokies.
- Younger adults (18-34 years) are particularly vulnerable, with a higher proportion at risk compared to older adults.
- Approximately 41% of regular sports bettors experienced gambling-related problems, indicating a high risk of harm within this group. Regular sports bettors with gambling problems spent significantly more on gambling than those without problems.
- Approximately 30% of regular pokie players experience some form of gambling problem.
Impact of Advertising
- A significant number of Australians are exposed to gambling advertisements regularly, which influences their gambling behavior. Around 78% reported seeing or hearing wagering ads at least once a week, with young people (18-34 years) being more influenced by online and social media ads.
- Many Australians believe there are too many opportunities to gamble and support stronger regulations on gambling advertisements. For instance, 64% believe that the government should play the biggest role in deciding how wagering is advertised.
Pokie Machines
As of 2023, there are approximately 200,000 electronic gaming machines (pokies) operating across Australia. This includes machines in clubs, hotels, and casinos, with most states and territories allowing these machines in both clubs and hotels, except for Western Australia where they are only permitted in the Crown Perth casino.
Breakdown by States and Territories
- New South Wales (NSW) – 90,000 pokies
- Victoria – 30,000 pokies
- Queensland – 45,000 pokies
- South Australia – 13,000 pokies
- Other States and Territories – Approx 22,000 pokies
Pokies generated AUD $12.5 billion in revenues in 2023.
Australian Gambling Revenue Statistics
Land-based Casinos
The total revenue generated by land-based casinos in Australia for the fiscal year 2023 was approximately AUD 5.114 billion. This revenue includes earnings from various casino activities such as table games and electronic gaming machines.
The land-based casino sector contributed AUD 2.491 billion in industry value added (IVA) to the Australian economy. This figure represents the net output of the sector after accounting for the costs of goods and services used in production.
Employment and Wages
The casino industry employed a substantial number of people, contributing significantly to the labor market. Approximately AUD 1.780 billion was paid in salaries and wages to employees in the sector, highlighting the industry’s role in job creation and income distribution.
Comparison with Other Gambling Sectors
Overall Gambling Revenue
The overall revenue from all gambling sectors in Australia, including casinos, horse and dog racing, lotteries, and pubs/clubs, was significantly higher.
- Lotteries generated AUD $8.988 billion
- Sports betting generated AUD $5.266 billion
- Pokies generated AUD $12.5 billion
Tax Contributions
Gambling sectors, including casinos, contributed approximately AUD $5.8 billion in taxation revenue across Australia. This tax revenue supports various state-wide funding and benefit schemes, including community support, gambling help services, and responsible gambling initiatives.
Australian Gambling Regulation
Australia does not currently have a national gambling regulator. This means that it falls to the gambling authority for each individual state to regulate the local industry.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will also issue warnings and penalties to local gambling operators who are deemed to have breached advertising rules or offshore entities that are operating illegally in the state.
In November 2019, the ACMA started requesting that local internet service providers limit access to illegal gambling websites. Since then the ACMA has blocked 995 unlicensed and illegal gambling websites.
During that same period around 220 unlicensed gambling businesses have removed their products and services from the Australian market as a direct result of warnings or enforcements issued by the authority.
Gambling Regulatory Bodies by State and Territory in Australia
| State | Regulator |
|---|---|
| New South Wales (NSW) | Liquor & Gaming NSW |
| Victoria | Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) |
| Queensland | Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) |
| South Australia | Consumer and Business Services (CBS) |
| Western Australia | Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries – Racing, Gaming and Liquor |
| Tasmania | Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission |
| Northern Territory | Northern Territory Racing Commission |
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | ACT Gambling and Racing Commission |
Australian Gambling Fines
During 2023, Australian regulators issued fines totaling AUD$477,695,652. The largest was the settlement agreed by Crown Resorts and The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) that saw the casino operator pay AU$450 million (€275.3 million). The deal was agreed following an investigation which uncovered serious AML failings at Crown’s Melbourne and Perth properties.
View the historical gambling industry fines tracker for a further breakdown of all financial penalties issued by Australian gambling regulators.
Resources
- Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS)
- Australian Gambling Research Centre (AGRC)
- Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
Ciaran has been working within the Gambling Industry as a deep analyst since 2019. His deep knowledge and understanding of all the gambling regulations, and processes makes him a true asset, and an always valuable point of view for Gambling Industry News, allowing us to cover every topics from a brand new perspective.