In a single year, Australians watched a staggering $25 billion vanish into the nation's gambling ecosystem, a growing vortex of loss and harm that reveals the true cost of a national pastime.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022-23, Australians lost $25.0 billion to gambling, representing a 7.0% increase from the previous year
- Poker machines accounted for 50.3% of total gambling expenditure in Australia in 2022-23, totaling $12.7 billion
- Total gambling turnover in Australia reached $323.4 billion in 2022-23, up 9.3% from 2021-22
- 47.6% of Australians aged 18+ gambled in the past 12 months in 2022
- Men were more likely to gamble at 52.3% compared to women at 43.1% in 2022
- Sports betting participation reached 35% among 18-24 year olds in 2023
- 1.0% of Australian adults are problem gamblers (PGSI 8+) in 2022
- Moderate risk gamblers numbered 190,000 or 1.0% of adults in 2022
- Gambling harm affected 1.3 million Australians as primary gamblers in 2023
- 15.3% of males aged 25-34 participated in sports betting weekly in 2023
- Females aged 65+ had highest lottery participation at 55.2% in 2022
- Low SES groups gambled at 55% rate vs 40% high SES in 2022
- Australia has 198,427 poker machines outside casinos as of 2023
- NSW licenses 94,664 gaming machines in clubs/pubs 2023
- Victoria has strict 5km venue separation rules for pokies since 2019
Australian gambling losses surged to a record $25 billion last year, prompting serious public harm.
Demographics
- 15.3% of males aged 25-34 participated in sports betting weekly in 2023
- Females aged 65+ had highest lottery participation at 55.2% in 2022
- Low SES groups gambled at 55% rate vs 40% high SES in 2022
- University educated gambled less at 42% vs 52% non-tertiary in 2022
- Unemployed gambled at 62% rate, highest employment category 2022
- NSW residents gambled most at 51.2% participation rate 2022
- QLD had 28% poker machine participation, highest state 2022
- Victoria's 18-24 males sports bet at 52% rate 2023
- SA females over 75 bingo rate 12.4% in 2022
- Indigenous males 18-24 problem rate 12.1% in 2022
- Migrants from non-English backgrounds gambled 48% rate 2022
- Single parents gambled at 58% rate, high risk group 2022
- Full-time workers weekly gambling 14.2% in 2022
- Retirees lottery participation 48.7% in 2022
- Metro Sydney poker machine use 32% vs 22% rural 2022
- 25-34 females online slots 11.5% participation 2023
- High income earners sports betting 42% rate 2022
- Disability support recipients gamble 53% rate 2022
Demographics Interpretation
Australia's gambling ecosystem is a stark portrait of vulnerability, where your weekly habit is often less a mark of free will and more a statistical prophecy written by your age, your wallet, your postcode, and the specific brand of your loneliness.
Economic Impact
- In 2022-23, Australians lost $25.0 billion to gambling, representing a 7.0% increase from the previous year
- Poker machines accounted for 50.3% of total gambling expenditure in Australia in 2022-23, totaling $12.7 billion
- Total gambling turnover in Australia reached $323.4 billion in 2022-23, up 9.3% from 2021-22
- Sports betting turnover grew by 24.6% to $60.8 billion in 2022-23, driven by online platforms
- Casino gambling expenditure increased 15.2% to $3.5 billion in 2022-23 across Australia
- Total taxes and levies from gambling in 2022-23 amounted to $6.7 billion for Australian governments
- Gambling expenditure per adult in Australia was $1,286 in 2022-23, up from $1,200 the prior year
- New South Wales generated $878 million in gambling taxes in 2022-23 from poker machines alone
- Victoria's gambling revenue reached $3.2 billion in 2022-23, with 45% from gaming machines
- Queensland's gambling taxes totaled $1.1 billion in 2022-23, primarily from lotteries and gaming
- South Australia's gambling expenditure hit $1.4 billion in 2022-23, up 10%
- Tasmania's gaming machine revenue was $152 million in 2022-23
- Northern Territory's casino revenue exceeded $200 million in 2022-23
- ACT's gambling turnover was $1.2 billion in 2022-23, with taxes at $250 million
- Online gambling expenditure surged 30% to $5.8 billion nationally in 2022-23
- Lotteries and Keno generated $7.2 billion in expenditure in 2022-23 across Australia
- Race betting turnover was $38.4 billion in 2022-23, a 12% rise
- Total player losses from all forms of gambling per capita were $970 in 2022-23
- Gambling industry employed over 170,000 people directly in Australia in 2023
- Economic contribution of gambling to GDP was estimated at 1.2% or $28 billion in 2022-23
Economic Impact Interpretation
Australia's gambling industry is a masterclass in national self-sabotage, where we collectively lost a staggering $25 billion last year—enough to make even a poker machine blush—while convincing ourselves that the $6.7 billion in government taxes somehow makes this a winning bet.
Participation Rates
- 47.6% of Australians aged 18+ gambled in the past 12 months in 2022
- Men were more likely to gamble at 52.3% compared to women at 43.1% in 2022
- Sports betting participation reached 35% among 18-24 year olds in 2023
- Instant scratch tickets were gambled on by 20.1% of adults in 2022
- Online gambling participation was 27.4% nationally in 2022
- Poker machine gambling rate was 25.8% in 2022, highest in NSW and QLD
- Lottery participation stood at 42.3% of adults in the past year 2022
- Horse race betting involved 15.2% of gamblers in 2022
- Casino table games participation was 8.7% in 2022
- Bingo gambling rate was 4.1% among adults in 2022
- eBetting (non-sports) participation grew to 12.3% in 2022
- Gambling frequency: 10.3% gambled weekly in 2022
- Low risk gambling prevalence was 28.4% in 2022
- Risky gambling rate at 6.7%, moderate risk 2.1% in 2022 survey
- Non-gamblers made up 52.4% of population in 2022
- Young adults 18-24 had highest sports betting rate at 47.2% in 2023
- Indigenous Australians gambled at 65% rate vs 46% non-Indigenous in 2022
- Regional Australians gambled more at 51.2% vs metro 45.8% in 2022
Participation Rates Interpretation
Australia's national pastime appears to be a high-stakes wager on our own common sense, where nearly half the population is placing bets, our youth are being groomed for sports betting, and the odds of social harm are disturbingly high.
Problem Gambling
- 1.0% of Australian adults are problem gamblers (PGSI 8+) in 2022
- Moderate risk gamblers numbered 190,000 or 1.0% of adults in 2022
- Gambling harm affected 1.3 million Australians as primary gamblers in 2023
- 4.1 million Australians experienced harm from another's gambling in 2023
- Problem gambling rate among sports bettors was 7.2% in 2022
- Poker machine problem gamblers at 2.2% of adults, highest form
- Online gamblers had 3.8% problem rate vs 0.8% offline in 2022
- Males had higher problem gambling rate at 1.4% vs 0.6% females in 2022
- 18-24 year olds problem rate 2.1%, highest demographic in 2022
- Indigenous problem gambling rate 5.7% vs 0.9% non-Indigenous in 2022
- 32% of problem gamblers attempted suicide in past year 2022
- Average problem gambler losses $20,900 annually in 2023
- 75% of problem gamblers experienced financial difficulties in 2022
- Gambling-related crime cost $1.2 billion yearly, linked to problem gambling
- Treatment seekers numbered 45,000 in 2022, up 15%
- Family violence linked to gambling harm in 17% of cases 2023
- Mental health issues 3x higher among problem gamblers 2022
- Homelessness risk 4x higher for problem gamblers in 2023
- Job loss rate 25% among problem gamblers annually
- Bankruptcy filings linked to gambling up 8% in 2022
Problem Gambling Interpretation
While the statistic of 1% of adults being problem gamblers might seem small, it's a tragically efficient minority that inflicts financial ruin, suicide attempts, and a tidal wave of harm on millions of others, proving a single gambling addiction can bankrupt both wallets and souls.
Regulation
- Australia has 198,427 poker machines outside casinos as of 2023
- NSW licenses 94,664 gaming machines in clubs/pubs 2023
- Victoria has strict 5km venue separation rules for pokies since 2019
- QLD mandatory carded play on pokies introduced 2024 for harm minimisation
- Sports betting ad ban during live sports before 5pm on weekends since 2020
- National Self-Exclusion Database registers 50,000+ users since 2018
- Credit card ban for online gambling enforced since 2018 nationally
- Tasmania caps pokies at 3,500 machines since 2019 reforms
- NT maximum $1,200 cash input limit per session on pokies 2023
- ACT pre-commitment trials ongoing for gaming machines 2023
- 1,200+ gambling operators licensed by ACMA in 2023
- $500 loss limit per hour trialled in QLD clubs 2024
- NSW harm minimisation levy funds $60m annually for research
- Victoria's community benefit statements require $1.4b spend 2023
- SA electronic monitoring of play mandatory since 2021
- Federal illegal offshore wagering blocklist has 200+ sites 2023
- Gambling help helpline calls 250,000+ yearly national average
- Pokie venue numbers reduced 5% in VIC since 2018 caps
- National Consumer Protection Framework updated 2023 for online betting
- 85% compliance rate for responsible gambling interactions 2023 audits
Regulation Interpretation
Australia's regulatory patchwork, from carded play to ad bans, feels like an earnest but comically inadequate attempt to fight a flood with a teacup, given there are nearly two hundred thousand poker machines quietly siphoning away in the background.
Sources & References
- Reference 1QGSOqgso.qld.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 2BUSINESSbusiness.qld.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 3LIQUORANDGAMINGliquorandgaming.nsw.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 4VGCCCvgccc.vic.gov.auVisit source
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- Reference 6GAMBLINGgambling.tas.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 7NTnt.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 8GAMBLINGgambling.act.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 9ACMAacma.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 10GRAgra.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 11PMCpmc.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 12CSRMcsrm.cass.anu.edu.auVisit source
- Reference 13GAMBLEAWAREgambleaware.nsw.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 14AFSAafsa.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 15GAMBLINGHELPONLINEgamblinghelponline.org.auVisit source