Australia gambling statistics: participation, regulation, and industry data

Gambling industry revenue in Australia

Australia's gambling market is dominated by electronic gaming machines (pokies), which account for approximately 53% of total losses. In 2022–23, Australians wagered a total of AU$244.3 billion across all forms of gambling, with net losses of AU$31.5 billion (QGSO Australian Gambling Statistics, 40th edition, 2025). Total losses have grown to an estimated AU$25.5 billion in 2024–25 when measured by operator gross gambling revenue. For comparison, see our United Kingdom gambling statistics.

Online gambling's share of total losses has grown from under 18% in 2019–20 to over 30% in 2024–25, driven primarily by sports betting apps and digital wagering on racing. Land-based gambling has plateaued as pokies revenue growth slows and casino operators face heightened regulatory scrutiny following royal commissions into Crown Resorts.

How many people gamble in Australia?

Approximately 70% of Australian adults participate in some form of gambling each year, according to the ANU POLIS Gambling Participation in Australia 2025 report. This is down from 73% recorded by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) in earlier surveys, suggesting a gradual decline in overall participation even as total losses continue to rise — indicating that those who do gamble are losing more per person. About 38% of adults gamble at least once per week, with 48% of men and 28% of women gambling weekly (AIFS, 2023).

Problem gambling in Australia

Roy Morgan research (August 2025) estimates that 2.9% of Australian adults — approximately 622,000 people — meet the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) threshold for problem gambling. A further 8.6% report having bet more than they could afford, and 5.7% have felt guilty about the way they gamble. The ANU POLIS 2025 report found that gambling harm has intensified despite declining overall participation, with online gamblers and younger adults at significantly elevated risk.

The majority of problem gamblers are aged under 35 (Roy Morgan, 2025). The NSW Gambling Survey 2024 — the largest state-level study, surveying 10,000 people — found that the prevalence of problem gambling in NSW had increased compared to previous surveys, with online sports bettors and pokie players at highest risk.

Treatment and help-seeking

Australia's primary gambling support service is Gambling Help Online, a national service funded by state and territory governments, which operates a 24/7 helpline (1800 858 858), live chat, and online counselling. In 2023, BetStop — the National Self-Exclusion Register — was launched, allowing individuals to exclude themselves from all licensed Australian online wagering services through a single registration.

Despite the availability of support, help-seeking rates remain low. Research suggests only 8–15% of people experiencing gambling problems seek formal treatment (AIHW, 2023). If you're concerned about your own gambling, you can take our PGSI self-assessment quiz — a validated screening tool used internationally.

Australia gambling regulation

Gambling in Australia is regulated through a combination of federal and state/territory laws. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA), administered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), governs online gambling at the federal level — prohibiting online casino games, in-play sports betting, and online poker for Australian residents. Land-based gambling (casinos, pokies, lotteries) is regulated by individual state and territory authorities.

Recent years have seen significant regulatory upheaval. Royal commissions into Crown Resorts in Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia revealed systemic failures in anti-money laundering compliance, responsible gambling obligations, and corporate governance. The 2019 National Consumer Protection Framework introduced standardised protections for online wagering, including activity statements, deposit limits, and the right to self-exclude.

Online gambling in Australia

Online sports betting is the fastest-growing segment of Australian gambling, with losses growing from approximately AU$1.1 billion in 2017 to an estimated AU$7.8 billion in 2024–25 — including sports, racing, and other online wagering. The market is dominated by four operators — Sportsbet (Flutter Entertainment), TAB (Entain), Ladbrokes/Neds, and PointsBet — which collectively hold approximately 80–85% of online wagering market share.

Over 75% of online wagers are placed via mobile apps. Same-game multis (SGMs) have become a particularly controversial product, with research indicating they carry significantly higher margins and are associated with elevated gambling harm. Online casino games and online poker remain prohibited for Australian residents under the IGA, though ACMA regularly blocks access to offshore operators.

Young people and gambling

Adults aged 18–34 are the demographic most at risk of gambling harm in Australia. Roy Morgan (2025) found that the majority of the 622,000 Australians classified as problem gamblers are aged under 35. A 2016 study found that one in six Australians aged 16–17 had participated in underage gambling, primarily through lottery products and informal betting.

The minimum legal gambling age across all Australian states and territories is 18. Online wagering operators are required to verify age and identity before allowing customers to place bets, and BetStop allows individuals aged 18 and over to self-exclude from all licensed online wagering services nationally.

Gambling harm and support

The social cost of gambling in Australia is substantial. A 2023 Victorian study estimated the total social cost of gambling in Victoria alone at AU$14.1 billion annually — encompassing financial harm (AU$5.2B), emotional and physical harm (AU$3.3B), relationship breakdown (AU$2.5B), and productivity losses (AU$1.5B). Research consistently links problem gambling to financial distress, family violence, depression, anxiety, and elevated suicide risk. For every person experiencing gambling harm, an estimated 5 to 10 additional people — partners, children, family members, and friends — are also affected.

Support services include Gambling Help Online (1800 858 858), Lifeline (13 11 14), BetStop national self-exclusion, and state-funded counselling through services such as Gambler's Help in Victoria. The AIHW reports that gambling is increasingly recognised as a public health issue in Australian policy frameworks. For further guidance on recognising and managing gambling-related harm, visit our responsible gambling hub.