90%
75%
USA
Canada
Australia
UKAustralians Lose $32.8 Billion to Gambling: What’s Driving the Rise?
Why are Australian gambling losses so high? The 2024–25 bill came to A$33 billion. Per adult, that’s nearly three times Canada’s level and farther ahead again when set against commercial gaming in the USA. Having a punt, after all, is very much part of everyday Australian life.
Walk into a pub or club and there’s a good chance you’ll find pokies, while placing a sports bet can be as easy as pulling out your phone. That convenience, however, may come at a price, and could well be part of why Australians are losing more to gambling each year.
How Much Do Australians Spend on Gambling Each Year?
The latest Australian Gambling Statistics put losses at A$32.999 billion in 2024–25 (stakes minus winnings), 2.7% higher than the A$32.131 billion recorded a year earlier. Poker machines take A$16.2 billion, the largest share of annual gambling losses. The rest breaks down like this:
- Sports and racing betting: A$7.8 billion
- Casino gambling: A$4.55 billion
- Lotteries, Lotto and Keno: A$3.8 billion
- Other gambling: A$450 million
Across Australians of legal gambling age, average losses equal A$1,555 per person, just under A$30 a week. The yearly total rose from A$28.1B in 2021/22 to A$32.8B in 2024/25.
Australia’s Gambling Statistics at a Glance
Gambling losses in Australia continue to come mostly from in-person gambling. In 2024–25, A$25.0 billion was lost at physical venues versus A$7.8 billion online. Trends have moved steadily upward, despite a few temporary declines. Among all products, pokies dominate, while sports wagering is growing fastest. NSW records the highest losses, helped by the country’s largest concentration of poker machines. Participation shifts noticeably by age and gender, while average household losses come to A$3,180 a year.
Australian Gambling Participation by Demographic
The table below shows how gambling varies across age and gender groups in Australia, including the share who have a punt at least once a week.
| Demographic | Sports Betting | Any Gambling | Gambles at Least Once Weekly+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men 18–24 | 14.3% | 48.5% | 21.0% |
| Men 25–34 | 14.9% | 54.2% | 24.5% |
| Men 35–54 | 8.8% | 61.0% | 22.0% |
| Men 55+ | 3.8% | 63.5% | 19.0% |
| Women 18–34 | 2.4% | 42.0% | 9.5% |
| Women 35+ | 1.5% | 56.5% | 16.0% |
Gambling Losses by Australian State and Territory
Across the states and territories, New South Wales accounts for 42% of the national total and also leads on losses per adult once the Northern Territory’s licensing-hub distortion is set aside. On the opposite end is Western Australia, which makes sense when you consider it’s the only jurisdiction that doesn’t allow pokies in pubs and clubs.
| State/Territory | 2024–25 Loss | Loss per Adult |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Territory* | A$650M | A$3,333 |
| New South Wales | A$13.55B | A$1,993 |
| Queensland | A$5.80B | A$1,381 |
| Victoria | A$6.65B | A$1,255 |
| South Australia | A$1.75B | A$1,167 |
| Tasmania | A$420M | A$933 |
| ACT | A$310M | A$873 |
| Western Australia | A$1.70B | A$773 |
*Northern Territory figures are inflated by betting companies licensed there that serve customers across Australia, so they do not reflect resident losses alone.
Gambling Losses by Channel and Product
Year after year, most gambling money is still lost in physical venues, from pubs and clubs to casinos. Federal law bans online pokies, table games and in-play sports betting, yet the digital market continues posting positive figures, for operators at least.
| Channel | FY2019–20 | FY2022–23 | FY2024–25 | Share of 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land-based | A$21.2B | A$24.2B | A$25.0B | 76.2% |
| Online | A$4.0B | A$7.3B | A$7.8B | 23.8% |
Across the main products, the figures below show how losses moved year on year and where 2025–26 is forecast to land. The “other gambling” row groups poker, minor gaming and bingo, including trade promotions, community raffles and poker leagues.
| Product | FY2022–23 | FY2023–24 | FY2024–25 | 2024–25 Share | Annual Change | FY2025–26 Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poker machines | A$15.8B | A$15.95B | A$16.2B | 49.4% | +1.6% | A$16.45B |
| Sports & racing wagering | A$6.6B | A$7.1B | A$7.8B | 23.8% | +9.9% | A$8.4B |
| Casinos | A$4.8B | A$4.65B | A$4.55B | 13.9% | -2.2% | A$4.45B |
| Lotteries, Lotto & Keno | A$3.8B | A$3.85B | A$3.8B | 11.6% | -1.3% | A$3.8B |
| Other gambling | A$500M | A$450M | A$450M | 1.4% | 0.0% | A$450M |
Australian Gambling Losses Over Time
With only a few temporary dips, total gambling losses in Australia have trended upward since 1992–93. Part of that reflects inflation and population growth, while the gambling market itself has also changed dramatically, particularly through wider pokie availability and the rise of online wagering.
| Financial Year | Loss per Adult | Total Gambling Losses |
|---|---|---|
| 1992–93 | A$720 | A$8.2B |
| 1997–98 | A$850 | A$11.5B |
| 2002–03 | A$950 | A$14.8B |
| 2007–08 | A$1,080 | A$18.2B |
| 2012–13 | A$1,180 | A$21.4B |
| 2017–18 | A$1,290 | A$24.9B |
| 2020–21 | A$1,080 | A$21.2B |
| 2021–22 | A$1,395 | A$28.1B |
| 2022–23 | A$1,527 | A$31.5B |
| 2023–24 | A$1,538 | A$32.0B |
| 2024–25 | A$1,555 | A$32.8B |
| 2025–26 | A$1,572 (Forecast) | A$33.5B (Forecast) |
Key Findings Behind The Data
- Australia’s gambling losses are spread across a wide range of products and demographic groups. States with greater pokie exposure record heavier spending, while WA is the clearest contrast. At the same time, wagering and online gambling are expanding faster.
- Australia stands well above comparable gambling markets. The latest widely cited comparable dataset from H2 Gambling Capital, covering 2022, ranked Australia first globally at A$1,635 lost per adult, more than double New Zealand’s A$584 and roughly twice the U.S. figure of A$809.
- Pokies are unusually accessible in Australia. About 93% of the country’s 185,000 machines operate outside casinos, while comparable high-intensity games overseas are usually confined to dedicated vanues; Australia had one per 131 people in 2019.
- Australian research finds younger online bettors face higher gambling-harm risks and greater exposure to wagering advertising through digital media. In the UK, online slot stakes were capped in 2025 at £2 per spin for those aged 25 and under.
- State-by-state differences also expose Australia’s fragmented regulatory structure. The Murphy inquiry called for a national online gambling regulator, an ombudsman and a national harm-reduction strategy. Ireland has already moved in that direction, establishing a single independent regulator in 2025 and opening its new licensing system in 2026.
Gambling Addiction in Australia: The Human Cost Behind the Statistics
Australia stands well apart on gambling losses per adult, but the share of people showing signs of harm is much closer to other mature markets. In 2024, 15% of Australian adults scored at least one on the Problem Gambling Severity Index, barely above Great Britain’s 14.6%, although around 1.8 times that of New Zealand (8.3%).
| The Problem Gambling Severity Index is a nine-question screening tool that asks about behaviours and consequences such as chasing losses, betting beyond your means, borrowing money, guilt and financial problems. So when 15% of Australian adults registered a score above zero, it means roughly one in seven reported some indication of gambling-related risk or harm. |
Among Australians classified as high risk, 65.9% reported financial hardship and 15.5% had experienced thoughts of suicide, compared with 3.8% of non-risk gamblers. While the figures stop short of proving cause and effect, warning signs such as chasing losses, borrowing to bet, missing bills or deteriorating mental health are a good reason to pause and get support before things escalate. For more information, check out our dedicated page on responsible gambling.
Too often, people leave it too long before seeking help. Among at-risk regular online bettors who wanted support but never sought it, 62.7% said embarrassment was holding them back. Gambling Help Online provides free, confidential counselling 24/7, with phone support also available through the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858. BetStop offers another option for people who want to exclude themselves from all Australian-licensed online and phone wagering services.
