Australian Gambling Study: Over 60% of Residents Engage in Gambling

The Australian National University (ANU) has released findings from its comprehensive study on gambling trends among Australians, shedding light on the prevalence of gambling behaviors and their impact on individuals’ well-being.

Key insights from the research, conducted from April 2019 to January 2024, include:

• 60.3% of Australians partake in gambling activities.
• 13.6% of gamblers are at risk of developing gambling addiction.
• 46.8% of residents engage in purchasing lottery tickets.

Thus, lotteries emerged as the most favored form of gambling in Australia. Slot machines and horse race betting also rank high among popular choices.

The study highlighted a tendency for increased gambling participation among older age groups and individuals with lower educational backgrounds. In contrast, younger Australians exhibit lower gambling frequency, with a notable surge in iGaming preference among respondents. “Online gambling has exponentially increased and should now be considered one of the main gambling platforms,” noted lead researcher, Dr. Aino Suomi.

Of concern is the discovery that around one in seven gamblers exhibit signs of problem gambling. Furthermore, the research revealed that 5.3% of adult Australians (equivalent to approximately 1.2 million individuals) have been impacted by the gambling behaviors of their close contacts.

In related developments, a recent study by the National Centre for Social Research and the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom was reported last week.