Gambling in Australia Statistics
Author Emily Cartwright
Date update: 24.09.2025
Online gambling has become a central part of Australia’s entertainment culture. While it offers fun and excitement, it also carries financial and social risks. To provide readers with an accurate picture, our team analysed reports from the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), the Australasian Gaming Council (AGC), and Statista Research Department. Below you’ll find verified insights into gambling participation, economic contributions, per capita spending, and player behaviour.
Gambling Participation in Australia
According to AIFS (2023), around 73% of Australian adults engaged in some form of money gambling. The most common products were:
- Lotteries & scratchies: 64%
- Sports betting: 34%
- Poker machines (pokies): 33.4%
- Race betting (horse, harness, greyhound): 24.4%
- Casino table games: 22.4%
👉 This shows that lottery products dominate participation, while sports and pokies remain the fastest-growing segments.
Gambling by Gender and Age
- Men gamble more frequently than women across nearly all categories, spending higher amounts and taking on greater financial risk.
- Average age of male gamblers: 39 years.
- Younger men (32–33) are more active in esports and fantasy sports.
- Men around 39 lean towards sports betting and poker.
- Those in their early 40s prefer horse racing.
Notably, around 27.1% of male gamblers fall into low, moderate, or high-risk categories for problem gambling.
Economic Impact of the Gambling Industry
Gambling contributes significantly to Australia’s economy through tax revenues, employment, and industry growth. Data from the AGC (2019–20) shows:
- Casinos: AUD 2.49 billion
- Horse & sports betting: AUD 1.26 billion
- Lotteries: AUD 1.99 billion
- Racing (horses & dogs): AUD 778 million
- Gaming & vending machine manufacturing: AUD 216 million
ACT Gambling and Racing Commission Allocations
| Fund | Amount (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Gambling Harm Prevention & Mitigation | 1,251,000,000 |
| Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund | 269,000 |
| Diversification & Sustainability Support Fund | 753,000 |
| Community grants | 386,676 |
| Gambling counselling services | 11,571,424 |
| Gambling research | 1,017,813 |
| Community Benefit Scheme | 1,050,401 |
Per Capita Gambling Expenditure
The AGC reported a total national expenditure of AUD 21.24 billion (2019–20). Breakdown:
- Gaming machines: AUD 3.51 billion
- Lotteries: AUD 2.62 billion
- Keno: AUD 306 million
- Minor gaming: AUD 29 million
- Interactive gaming: AUD 3.8 billion
State-Level Spending
According to Statista (2020):
- New South Wales (NSW): Highest per capita gambling spend – AUD 1,508.05.
- National average (gaming): AUD 838.18.
- National average (wagering): AUD 229.55.
Device Usage: How Australians Gamble Online
Mobile devices dominate online play:
- Smartphones: 55.3%
- Desktops, laptops, tablets, consoles: 44.7% combined
Mobile optimisation and dedicated casino apps have accelerated this shift, making smartphones the preferred option for most users.
Online Gambling Participation Growth
- 2011 participation: 8.1%
- 2019 participation: 17.5%
That’s a 116% increase in less than a decade, highlighting Australia as one of the fastest-growing online gambling markets globally.
Global Context
Comparing international engagement rates (2019):
- Norway & Finland: Among the highest worldwide
- Australia: 17.5% of adults participate in online gambling
This shows that legal frameworks and regulations play a critical role in shaping gambling activity.
Key Takeaways
- Gambling is a mainstream activity in Australia, with lotteries, pokies, and sports betting leading participation.
- Economic contributions from gambling are significant, but so are the associated social risks.
- Smartphones are the primary mode of access for online play.
- Participation has more than doubled in less than a decade, driven by online platforms.
At thegreenstreetacademy.com, we advocate responsible gambling. Always treat gambling as entertainment—not as a way to generate income.