Gambling trends in Australia show a gradual decline in overall participation, a strong shift from venues to online betting, and a worrying rise in risky behaviour among those who still gamble. Fewer Australians are gambling, but those who do are more likely to bet online, more frequently and at higher risk levels than in previous years.
Participation and spending patterns
Recent national studies indicate that around 60% of Australian adults now gamble in a typical year, down from around two‑thirds before the pandemic. This reflects a long‑term softening in casual venue‑based gambling, even as new digital options become more prominent.
At the same time, surveys consistently show a substantial share of adults gambling at least once a week and a smaller but significant group gambling at risky levels according to standard problem gambling screens. This means total participation is lower, but harm is more concentrated among regular and high‑intensity players.
Shift from venues to online
One of the clearest shifts across the last decade is the move from in‑venue gambling to online platforms. Recent research suggests that around one‑third of Australian adults who gamble now do so online, a proportion that has overtaken those who gamble mainly in person.
This digital migration accelerated during COVID‑19 closures and remained elevated afterward, as many people kept the online habits they formed during lockdowns. For venues, this has meant adjusting to a world where the local pub, club or TAB is just one of many options rather than the default place to place a bet.
Online wagering growth
Within the online space, sports and racing wagering dominate legal activity. Market research estimates the Australian online gambling market at more than USD 5 billion in the mid‑2020s, with forecasts of steady growth over the next decade.
Turnover at major online wagering operators has dipped in some recent years, but the number of active customers has remained stable or risen, suggesting that more people are using these platforms even if average spend per person is under pressure. Competitive promotions, live betting options and seamless mobile apps have made online wagering part of everyday entertainment for many regular punters.
Rise of online pokies and casino‑style play
Despite federal restrictions that prevent licensed Australian operators from offering online casino games to local residents, there is clear evidence that many Australians are accessing online slots and pokies and other casino‑style products through offshore or grey‑area providers. Survey data suggest that about one in ten online gamblers report using digital pokies or slots, with smaller but notable shares playing online casino games or poker.
Industry and market commentary highlight rapid growth in demand for online pokies, driven by convenience, 24/7 availability and sophisticated graphics, themes and bonus features. Younger adults in particular have been gravitating towards digital slot products, shifting some of their attention away from purely venue‑based machines.
Demographic shifts and younger players
Age patterns are changing as digital gambling options expand. Surveys reveal that younger adults are heavily represented among online gamblers, particularly in sports betting and online pokies, even though older age groups still account for a large slice of total online participation.
Some studies point to a strong presence of 18‑ to 34‑year‑olds in new online pokies and social casino audiences, reflecting broader trends in mobile gaming, streaming culture and influencer‑driven promotion. Among younger men, the proportion engaging in frequent sports betting has surged, with one analysis estimating more than a 50% increase over recent years.
Risky behaviour and harm trends
Although overall participation has softened, indicators of risky or harmful gambling have moved in the opposite direction. National surveys tracking Problem Gambling Severity Index scores show that the share of adults gambling at risky levels has climbed year on year, even as the gambling population shrinks.
Recent results suggest that well over one in ten people who gamble fall into risky categories, with a further group experiencing severe problems, translating into millions of Australians affected either directly or through a family member. Research links this harm to financial stress, relationship conflict, family violence and mental health issues, underlining that current trends are as much a public health issue as an economic one.
Product mix: pokies, racing, sports and lotteries
Pokies remain central to Australia’s gambling landscape, both in clubs and pubs and through online channels accessed via overseas operators. Australia still accounts for a disproportionately high share of the world’s poker machines, and slots continue to attract the largest share of gambling expenditure.
Racing maintains a stable base, with online betting helping to offset slower growth in traditional on‑course and retail TAB wagering. Sports betting has been the fastest‑growing product over the last decade, fuelled by heavy advertising, in‑play options and the integration of odds into live broadcasts. Lotteries continue to draw broad participation across age groups, often viewed as low‑risk, low‑frequency play compared with continuous forms such as pokies and online wagering.
Technology, apps and personalisation
Technological innovation is reshaping how Australians gamble and what they expect from gambling products. Mobile apps now dominate online play, offering rapid registration, biometric logins, one‑touch deposits and real‑time odds across multiple sports and events.
Providers use data analytics and personalisation to tailor offers, bonuses and recommendations, which can enhance user experience but also intensify engagement for people already at risk. Newer features such as same‑game multis, cash‑out functions, micro‑markets and live streaming blur the line between watching sport and actively betting, embedding wagering more deeply into leisure time.
Regulation, reforms and credit‑card bans
Regulators are responding to these trends with a mix of national and state‑based measures aimed at tightening controls while allowing regulated markets to function. Recent initiatives include the introduction of a national self‑exclusion register for online wagering and new rules banning the use of credit cards for online gambling to reduce the risk of debt‑fuelled play.
States and territories are also refining advertising rules, inducement restrictions and venue‑based harm‑minimisation requirements, often informed by data from long‑running national gambling trend studies. Future reforms may focus more on algorithmic monitoring of risky behaviour, stronger limits on high‑risk products and stricter transparency obligations for operators.
Community attitudes and public debate
Community sentiment towards gambling in Australia is shifting. While many people still view it as a normal part of social life and entertainment, growing awareness of harm – particularly among younger adults and families affected by problem gambling – is leading to stronger calls for reform.
Public debate now frequently focuses on advertising saturation during sport, the presence of pokies in local communities and the ease of accessing offshore casino sites. Surveys show considerable concern about the impact of gambling on the community, even among those who gamble themselves, which is shaping political and regulatory agendas.
What these trends mean for players and industry
For individual players, current trends mean more choice, more convenience and more sophisticated products, but also a higher need for self‑awareness and control. With online play now mainstream and risky behaviour rising within a smaller gambling population, tools such as deposit limits, time‑outs and self‑exclusion matter more than ever for staying within safe bounds.
For the industry, the landscape is defined by intense competition online, ongoing scrutiny of harm and advertising, and a gradual rebalancing between physical venues and digital platforms. Businesses that can adapt to these trends while investing seriously in consumer protection are best placed to operate sustainably as Australia’s gambling market continues to evolve.