Top 5 Countries with the Most Gambling Lovers

Kate Marshal

Upd 10 days ago

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Which countries have the most gambling lovers in the world? You might be surprised by some of the results — so buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Country	Gambling Participation Rate (GPR)
USA	76.9%
Australia	73%
Canada	64.5%
Singapore	44%
South Korea	41.8%
Japan	33.8%

Top 5 Countries with the Most Gambling Lovers

Note: To build our ranking, we used a measure called Gambling Participation Rate (GPR). GPR is the percentage of adults in a country who have gambled in some form in the past year. For example, if a country has 100 million adults and 77 million of them have gambled, the GPR is 77%. More gambling lovers = higher GPR.

USA

The USA is not only the land of the free, but also of gambling: it had a gross revenue of over $60 billion in 2022, making it the biggest market in the world. This is more than the combined revenue of the 3rd and 4th largest markets: Australia andJapan. Not only that, but the USA also offers hundreds of casinos, racetracks, lotteries, and sportsbooks. In addition, it has some of the most famous gambling destinations in the world, such as Las Vegas (the Strip), Atlantic City and Reno. And if you think that’s impressive, wait until you hear this: the USA has 76.9% GPR, which means that more than 4 out of 5 adults have gambled in the past year.

Australia

Did you know that Australia has more than 200,000 pokies (slot machines) across the country, which account for more than half of its gambling revenue? That’s about one pokie for every 128 people. In fact, the nation of gamblers has the highest pokie revenue in the world, with $124.5 billion in 2019–2020. Its gambling expenditure per capita was $1,143.84 in 2022–2023, making it the highest in the world. The country also has a high gambling participation rate, with 64.5% of adults engaging in some form of gambling at least once a year.

Canada

Canada is another country that has a strong and diverse gambling culture. With over 100 casinos, the country has a high gambling participation rate, with 73% of adults playing at least one game of chance. Slots, table games, poker, bingo — Canada offers a wide range of gambling options. And if you ask about online gambling, Canada has you covered — the industry is growing fast, with an average revenue per user (ARPU) of $220.

Singapore

Singapore is a relatively new entrant to the gambling scene, but it has quickly become one of the most profitable destinations in Asia. It has 2 integrated resorts that offer casinos: Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. Singapore’s gambling revenue increased from $1.4 billion in 2021 to $2.5 billion in 2022. Singapore is also no slouch when it comes to gambling — 44% of residents gambled in some form, slightly lower than Canada’s rate.

South Korea

Have you ever dreamed of visiting Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world? Well, you might want to consider Seoul instead. On one hand, South Korea has a multi-trillion won industry that offers some of the most luxurious casinos in Asia: Paradise City and Jeju Shinhwa World. On the other hand, it has very strong negative attitudes toward gambling. Only one casino, Kangwon Land, is open to the locals, while the others are reserved for foreigners only. Despite these challenges, South Korea has a high gambling participation rate, with about 41.8% of adults engaging in some form of gambling at least once a year. By the way, in 2022, South Korea’s gambling revenue reached $1.47 billion.

Japan

Japan is a country that has one pachinko machine for every 54 people. Yes, you heard that right. Japan has over 7.2 million pachinko players and over 9,000 parlors across the country, while its population is only about 126 million. Pachinko is a game that combines elements of pinball and slot machines, and it is the most popular form of gambling in Japan. In 2022, Japan’s gambling revenue reached $7.2 billion, while it also has a growing online gambling market, with an average revenue per user of $628 in 2023.