Gambling is an activity undertaken by the majority of Australians. Australians placed bets totalling $244.3billion in 2022–23, positioning them as the world's leading gamblers. During the same period, losses from gambling amounted to $31.5billion.
In 2022, 72.8% of Australian adults gambled within the previous 12 months (80.5% for men and 66.2% for women) and 38% of Australian adults gambled at least once per week (48% for men and 28% for women). In 2007, Australians were estimated to lead the world with the highest gambling losses on a per-capita basis.Bryant, Nick "Australia in thrall of gambling mania", BBC, 30 January 2007 Australians spend more on online gambling than any other country in the world.
On a per-capita basis, Australians placed gambling bets worth AUD$9,885 in financial year 2020–2021, resulting in a loss of AUD$1,200. Australians cumulatively placed bets worth AUD$198 billion in this financial year, resulting in a total loss of AUD$24 billion.
Gambling is a significant public health issue, with around 80,000 to 160,000 (or 0.5–1.0%) of Australian adults experiencing significant problems from gambling and a further 250,000 to 350,000 (or 1.4–2.1% of adults) experiencing moderate risks that may make them vulnerable to problem gambling.
Recent research shows that approximately one in three (30%) individuals aged 12 to 17 engage in gambling, increasing to nearly half (46%) among those aged 18 to 19. In Australia, teenagers both before and after turning 18 are more likely to gamble than to participate in any of the most popular sports for their age group.
Australia's 20 largest superannuation funds collectively held over A$14.8 billion in publicly listed igaming-related companies, according to an industry study published in mid-2026.
Revenue In 2015–16, gambling revenue made up 7.7% of state and territory taxation revenue. The rate was lowest in Western Australia (2.5%) and highest in the Northern Territory (12.0%). Gambling revenue made up 2.5% of total state revenue when other revenue sources were taken into account. The rate was lowest in WA (0.9%) and highest in Victoria (3.2%). Gambling revenue as a portion of state taxation revenue has fallen for all states and territories between 2006–07 and 2015–16.
Total Australian gambling revenue in 2008–09 was just over $19 billion and the share of household consumption was 3.1%. According to the Queensland Government the total Australian gambling market was worth over $25 billion in 2019. During the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 the proportion of online gamblers rose to 78% while half of Australians gamble on a regular basis.
Forms of gambling
Electronic gaming machines Electronic gaming machines are commonly referred to within Australia as "pokies" or "poker machines". Electronic gaming machines are operated in all states of Australia as well as the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory. Each jurisdiction separately regulates the design and operation of electronic gaming machines. In the financial year 2020–2021, Australians placed bets worth almost AUD$150 billion through electronic gaming machines, resulting in a total player loss of AUD$12 billion for the year. Per-capita, losses for financial year 2020-2021 were AUD$608, amounting to approximately half of the AUD$1200 losses per-capita for all forms of gambling.
Australia is home to 3% of the world's pub and club poker machines, despite having only 0.3% of the global population. +Prevalence and use of electronic gaming machines within AustraliaJurisdictionNumber of machinesNumber of operating venuesTotal annual player turnover (FY20-21)Player annual turnover per capita (FY20-21)Total annual player lossesPlayer annual losses per capitaNew South Wales87298 (excluding casinos, June 2023)2195 (excluding casinos, June 2023)AUD$85.72 billionAUD$13559AUD$8.18 billion (excluding casinos, FY22-23)AUD$986 (excluding casinos, FY22-23)Northern Territory1659 limit (excluding casinos)75 limit (excluding casinos)AUD$1.65 billionAUD$8825AUD$0.15 billion (FY20-21)AUD$789 (FY20-21)Queensland21122 operating (October 2023) 23997 approved (October 2023)351 operating (October 2023) 359 approved (October 2023)AUD$32.34 billionAUD$8057AUD$3.49 billion (FY22-23)AUD$645 (FY22-23)South Australia11672 (excluding Adelaide Casino, September 2023)471 (excluding Adelaide Casino, September 2023)AUD$8.68 billionAUD$6087AUD$0.92 billion (excluding Adelaide Casino, FY22-23)AUD$497 (excluding Adelaide Casino, FY22-23)Victoria26380 (excluding Crown Casino, 2021–2022) 30000 limit488 (excluding Crown Casino, 2021–2022)AUD$17.65 billionAUD$3420AUD$3.02 billion (FY22-23)AUD$446 (FY22-23)Australian Capital Territory3587 operating (1 November 2023) 5091 approved (1 November 2023)46 (1 November 2023)AUD$1.87 billionAUD$5284AUD$0.19 billion (FY22-23)AUD$405 (FY22-23)Australia (combined)AUD$147.91 billionAUD$7385AUD$12.18 billion (FY20-21)AUD$608 (FY20-21) +Regulated configuration of electronic gaming machines within AustraliaJurisdictionMinimum long-term return to playerMaximum betMaximum bet frequencyNew South Wales85%AUD$10.00Northern Territory85%AUD$5.00 (general) Unlimited (casinos)Queensland85%AUD$5.00 (general) Unlimited (casinos)3 secondsSouth Australia87.5%AUD$5.00 (general) Unlimited (Adelaide Casino)Australian Capital Territory87%AUD$10.00Victoria85% (general) 87% (Crown Melbourne)AUD$5.00 (general) Unlimited (Crown Melbourne)2.14 secondsTasmania87%AUD$5.003 secondsWestern Australia90%Unlimited (Crown Perth)
Advertising Advertising for gambling is legal in Australia. However, in 2023, a parliamentary committee recommended a ban on gambling advertising during sporting events.
In 2024, ministers of the Albanese government discussed a ban during sporting events. The government briefed lobbyists about the policy before briefing the Labor Party caucus, which inspired internal dissent, with one MP calling the move "disgusting".
The government expressed concerns over impacts to the profitability of free-to-air television. Government minister Bill Shorten expressed doubts about the ban, while Jacqui Lambie accused the government of lacking courage. In response to concerns about network profitability, the Australia Institute proposed a new levy on gambling revenue, which could cover the losses.
Polling from the Australia Institute showed that 76% of Australians favour a complete ban on gambling advertisements, phased in over a three-year period. Additionally, 81% support banning such ads on social media and online platforms, while 79% support prohibiting them in stadiums and on players' uniforms.
In April 2026, Albanese announced that the government would introduce a cap of three gambling advertisements per hour and prohibit gambling advertising on sports jerseys. Ads will be capped from 6:30 am to 8:30 pm and will be banned during school pick up and drop off times. Gambling ads will also be banned on social media unless users are over 18 and are able to opt out of these notifications. Gambling ads featuring celebrities or athletes, containing odds details, and ads at sports venues will also be banned.
New South Wales New South Wales has a long history of gambling; Australia's first official horse racing meeting occurred in 1810 at Hyde Park in Sydney; the first official Australian lottery occurred in 1881 at the Sydney Cup; and registered clubs operated the first legal poker machines in Australia from 1956.
There are approximately 95,800 "pokies" in NSW, a state total beaten only by Nevada, which operated 181,109 gambling machines in 2014.
Between 1 December 2017 and 31 May 2018 NSW Clubs made a net profit of $1,945,161,625 and hotels made a net profit of $1,169,040,731 from pokies alone.
Fairfield Fairfield had the highest poker machine revenue in the state for 2013, generating $298million in clubs and $93million in pubs, from the start of the year to August.Needham, Kristy. "Punters in west pile money in pokies", "The Sydney Morning Herald", Australia, 23 March 2014. Retrieved on 10 September 2014. This figure is $123million greater than the combined total of profits generated from poker machines in the City of Sydney.
Hunter Region From January to March 2013 poker machines in the Hunter Region had a turn over of $4.5billion, showing an increase of $500million since 2010.Page, Donna. "Hunter punters blow $8682 a minute on pokies", "Newcastle Herald", Australia, 4 October 2013. Retrieved on 9 September 2014. Daily figures show a spend of $12.5million, working out to be $8682 per minute. The Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing found that Newcastle was the Hunter region's most profitable location with the 3206 poker machines averaging $44,963 each. The top five most profitable clubs for gaming revenue in the Hunter region in 2010 were:Page, Donna."How the Hunter gambled $4bn", "Newcastle Herald", Australia, 26 July 2010. Retrieved on 9 September 2014. Western Suburbs Leagues Club (Wests), New Lambton Wests (formerly Club Phoenix), Mayfield Wallsend RSL & Community Club, Wallsend Belmont 16 Foot Sailing Club, Belmont Cardiff Panthers, Cardiff The top five most profitable hotels for gaming revenue in the Hunter region in 2010 were. The George Tavern, East Maitland Bay Hotel Motel, Bonnells Bay Hotel Jesmond, Jesmond The Lake Macquarie Tavern, Mount Hutton Warners Bay Hotel, Warners Bay
Central Coast Region According to the latest figures from Liquor and Gaming NSW there are 4,046 poker machines in 39 clubs on the Central Coast, and 626poker machines in 29hotels; making a total of 4,672 poker machines on the Central Coast. That means 2.37% of the total number of poker machines in Australia are on the NSW Central Coast.
Gosford has approximately 1928 pokies, spread across 37 venues. That is the equivalent of one poker machine for every 71 adults. In 2010–11, venues in Gosford made approximately $95,865,000 in profit from pokies. That equates to $700 for each adult member of Gosford's population.
Wyong has approximately 2608 pokies, spread across 35 venues. That is the equivalent of one poker machine for every 47 adults. In 2010–11, venues in Wyong made approximately $123,159,000 in profit from pokies. That equates to $1,000 for each adult member of Wyong's population.
The Central Coast has a higher prevalence of problem gambling than the NSW average. Young men between the ages of 18 and 24 living on the Central Coast are the biggest players of poker machines in NSW and are the highest risk group for problem gambling.
In 2008 Central Coast Gambling Help carried out a survey of 200 young people aged from 13 to 24 and found: 96% of people from 18 to 24 had gambled for money or possessions 62% of those under 14 years old and 77% of those aged up to 17 had gambled for money or items, including mobile phones and MP3 players 25.5% of 14- to 17-year-olds and 55% of 18- to 24-year-olds had lost more than they had intended and 6% under 18 had played a poker machine
Regulatory authorities Since the introduction of new gambling services, including online gambling, the Commonwealth has taken a more active role in the regulation of gambling, but the Australian gambling industry is also regulated by State and Territory authorities: Australian Capital Territory – ACT Gambling and Racing Commission New South Wales – Liquor and Gaming NSW Northern Territory – Licensing Commission Queensland – Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation South Australia – Independent Gambling Authority Tasmania – Tasmanian Gaming Commission Victoria – Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission Western Australia – Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor
Self-regulatory government initiatives