- The Australian Institute of Family Studies presented research that shows that around 75% of adult Aussies were gambling at least once during the past year, while 38% of respondents participate in the activity weekly.
- Based on the study, in 2023, 42% of Australian gamblers placed their bets through mobile devices.
- At least 46% of the surveyed gamblers experienced of gambling-based harm of some level.
- The most common expenditures were on lotteries and scratch cards (64%), horse racing (38%), sports betting (34%), and pokies (33%). Notably, only 30% of participants limited themselves to one type of gambling; the majority engaged in multiple forms.
- Daily, gamblers spent around approximately $83 on sport bets – $98 for men and $53 for women, and $93 on race bets – $112 for men and $63 for women.
- As it was shown previously, men, compared to women, are more likely to participate in gambling activities, demonstrating higher frequency, spending, and addiction levels.
- 78% of Australians are seeing or hearing gambling advertising once per week minimum. This lead to 21% to try out betting, 34% to start betting more often, and 29% to place impulsive bets.
Popularity of Online Pokies by State
We’ve gathered and analyzed data from multiple sources to track how often Australians search for "online pokies" each month, broken down by state.
This data offers valuable insights into the popularity of online gambling across different regions, despite the Interactive Gambling Act (2001) restrictions.
The map's colours refer to the popularity of online pokies in each state. Queensland, New South Wales, and Tasmania are the top three front-runners by the number of pokie players.
By studying these search patterns, we can better assess how Australians are engaging with online gambling platforms.
Gambling and Gender
Gambling habits can vary significantly between men and women, with each gender often displaying different preferences, behaviors, and spending patterns.
The higher gambling spending among men can be attributed to several factors. Cultural and social norms have traditionally made gambling more accepted and encouraged among men, especially in activities like sports betting and poker, which are often male-dominated. Men also tend to prefer higher-stakes gambling, such as sports betting and table games, while women gravitate toward lower-stakes options like pokies or bingo.
Additionally, men are generally more inclined to take financial risks, which can lead to more frequent and larger wagers. Aggressive marketing, particularly in sports betting, often targets men, further increasing their engagement. Social circles and peer influence also play a role, as men are more likely to gamble in groups, where competition and peer pressure can drive higher spending.
Average (mean (median)) Expenditure on a Typical Day When Gambling by Gende
| Gambling product(s) | Overall | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports (e.g. NRL, AFL ) | $83 ($20) | $98 ($25) | $53 ($20) |
| Racing (including horse, harness and greyhound racing) | $93 ($20) | $112 ($30) | $63 ($20) |
| Any/all other gambling (e.g. pokies machines, lotteries, casino games) | $109 ($30) | $119 ($30) | $92 ($30) |
The average spending per typical session among gamblers was about the same for sports betting, racing, and other types of gambling. Also, men tend to spend more money gambling on all three types of products compared to women.
Exploring Online Casino Trends and the Most Popular Categories
We conducted our own research to learn which online casinos are the most popular among Aussies. The BetPokies team segmented gambling sites into categories such as casino types, bonuses, games, and payment methods. We have analysed thousands of search queries and found out how many times a month Australian gamblers search for them. Here, you can find the most popular ones and see their frequency in numbers.
Player Preferences for Online Casino Types
The diagram demonstrates that among numerous types of gambling platforms and casinos, the most popular ones are online casinos and bookmakers. While new and mobile casinos take third place in popularity, accounting for only 7%.
The Popularity of the Most Attractive Casino Bonuses
The popularity comparison of different types of bonuses proves that no-deposit bonuses remain the most requested ones. This is not surprising, considering that they allow players to try out new casinos without the need to risk any money.
Casino Games that Players Love the Most
Based on surveyed players' preferences, online pokies are the most popular type of games in online casinos. Online poker, lotto and roulette follows behind with 34%, 29% and 27% respectively. However, gamblers do not neglect games such as online bingo and online keno, which represent 22% and 20% of players' preferences.
Preferred Payment Methods in Online Casinos
Among online casino payment methods, PayID casinos lead the pack with 1000 monthly queries, showcasing a strong preference for this particular payment option. Neosurf casinos and PayPal casinos follow, with 100 and 60 monthly queries respectively, indicating notable interest in these alternative payment methods. Meanwhile, queries for general casino payment methods and specific methods like Neteller and Paysafecard casinos are lower, with around 50 and 40 monthly queries respectively, suggesting a moderate level of interest in exploring different payment options within the online casino realm.
Attitudes Towards Gambling Among Australian Adults
Gambling Harm Among People Who Gamble
Despite how much fun we all have while gambling, this activity is not completely safe. Not only can you face rogue or blacklisted casinos, but you might also gain a gambling addiction if you won't extra careful. The Problem Gambling Severity studies show that 46% of players have experienced some level of gambling-related harm within the past year.
What's interesting, the studies prove that male gamblers were found to be at risk more frequently than females, with numbers of 53% and 38%, respectively. Notably, young adults aged 18-34 were over twice as likely to be at risk compared to players aged 55 and older.