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The latest news and analysis on Australian sports betting regulation and market developments will appear here.
Publication date: TBCIndependent · Data-driven · Updated 2025
Verified data from government and academic sources. Covering pokies, sports betting, casino, and online gambling across every state and territory.
Australia ranks as the world's highest per-capita gambling nation. Total gambling turnover reached $244.3 billion in 2022–23 — an 18.2% increase year-on-year — while net player losses hit $31.5 billion. Online gambling now accounts for one-third of all gambling activity, with turnover up 165.7% to $75.4 billion. In August 2024, the Australian Government banned the use of credit cards for online betting to reduce financial harm.
Total gambling expenditure (net losses) AUD billions. Source: AIHW / QGSO 40th Edition
For the first time in 2024, online gambling surpassed venue-based gambling in Australia. By 2025, 56.1% of gamblers were mainly participating online. Sports betting is almost entirely digital at 95.6%, followed by race betting at 76.9%.
Gambling mode split, 2025. Source: ANU POLIS 2025
Lotteries remain the most common form of gambling, but activities with the highest harm rates — EGMs, sports and race betting — continue to attract significant participation. ANU POLIS 2025 data shows sports betting had 88.5% of participation conducted online.
% of Australian adult population participating in each activity (2025). Source: ANU POLIS 2025
Gambling is regulated state-by-state in Australia, with significant variation in revenue, dominant products and problem gambling rates. Hover over any state to see key statistics, or click through to the full state page.
Hover over each state to view key gambling statistics. Click to view full state data page. Sources: QGSO 40th Edition, VGCCC
% of gamblers classified as 'risky' (PGSI 1+), 2019–2025. Source: ANU POLIS 2025
A paradox is emerging in Australian gambling: overall participation is declining, yet the rate of risky gambling is surging. ANU POLIS research shows risky gambling jumped from 13.7% in 2024 to 19.4% in 2025 — nearly doubling since the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Those most at risk include young men, low-income households, unemployed individuals, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. AIHW research confirms gambling harm is concentrated among those who can least afford it.
18% of the world's pokies.
0.3% of the world's population.
Electronic gaming machines — known as "pokies" — are Australia's most lucrative and most harmful form of gambling. Despite hosting less than 1% of the global population, Australia is home to 18% of the world's poker machines.
Sports betting is one of the fastest-growing sectors of Australian gambling, driven by mobile apps and aggressive advertising. Of the 86.7% of regular online sports bettors, 58.5% have wagered on Aussie Rules and the AFL.
58.5% of online bettors have wagered on AFL — the most popular domestic sport for betting
AFL Betting StatsBettors spend an average of $125/month on horse racing. The Melbourne Cup alone stops the nation
Racing StatsSports betting participation among men rose from 5.6% → 9.3% monthly between 2015 and 2022
Online TrendsMen aged 18–34 are 5x more likely to wager on sports than those aged 65+; 48% of men bet weekly
Demographics DataEach Australian jurisdiction regulates gambling independently. The table below compares turnover, losses and tax revenue across all eight states and territories. Data sourced from QGSO 40th Edition (2023–24) and VGCCC 2024–25.
| State/Territory | Turnover | Net Losses | Tax Revenue | Dominant Product | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | $114.6B | ~$8.5B | $2B+ | Pokies | ~95,800 EGMs; highest absolute revenue |
| Victoria | $44.1B | $7.3B | $2.4B | Pokies / Wagering | Highest tax % (3.2%); max bet capped $100 |
| Queensland | ~$38B | ~$4.8B | ~$1.6B | Pokies / Wagering | Publishes national gambling statistics |
| Western Australia | ~$28B | ~$2.8B | Lowest (0.9%) | Casino / Lotteries | No EGMs in pubs or clubs |
| South Australia | ~$12B | ~$1.4B | ~$0.5B | Pokies / Lotteries | Significant pokies culture |
| Northern Territory | ~$3.6B | ~$0.9B | 12% rate | Wagering / Pokies | Highest problem gambling rate nationally |
| Tasmania | ~$3.2B | ~$0.5B | ~$0.18B | Pokies / Lotteries | Active debate on pub/club EGM phase-out |
| ACT | ~$3.5B | ~$0.4B | ~$0.14B | Lotteries / Club EGMs | No casino; EGMs in licensed clubs only |
If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, support is available free of charge across Australia. Recognising the signs — chasing losses, borrowing money to gamble, hiding gambling from loved ones, or feeling anxious about it — is the first step. The BetStop National Self-Exclusion Register allows you to self-exclude from all licensed Australian wagering operators at once. You don't have to manage this alone.
Learn about safeguarding yourself and managing addiction →News and analysis covering betting regulation, casino updates, pokies reform and online gambling in Australia.
The latest news and analysis on Australian sports betting regulation and market developments will appear here.
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