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A new report from the Australian National University (ANU) reveals a paradox in Australia’s gambling landscape: overall participation continues to decline, yet gambling-related harm is on the rise, fuelled by the rapid shift to online play.
According to the ANUpoll January 2025 survey, just 58.8% of Australian adults gambled in the past year – down from 65.6% in 2019. But risky gambling, measured using the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), has almost doubled since the pandemic. In 2025, 19.4% of adults reported gambling at risky levels, compared to 11.6% in 2023.
Online Takes the Lead
For the first time, more than half of all gamblers (56.1%) mainly played online. Sports betting is overwhelmingly digital, with 88.5% of punters betting online, while race betting also saw three-quarters of activity online (76.9%).
The report highlights that even prohibited forms such as online pokies and casino table games are growing fast, suggesting that offshore operators are successfully bypassing Australian restrictions.
Who Is Most at Risk?
The data identifies clear demographic divides:
Young adults (18–24): 30% engaged in risky gambling – the highest of any age group.
Men: 23.5% at risk, compared to 15% of women.
Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups: less likely to gamble overall, but more likely to experience harm.
Parents and households with children: overrepresented in both risky gambling and harm from others’ gambling.
Psychosocial factors play a strong role. The study shows loneliness and psychological distress are strongly associated with online gambling, echoing global research linking isolation and digital play to harmful behaviours.
Harm Extends Beyond Players
The survey also found that 5.9% of Australian adults reported being harmed by someone else’s gambling in the past year. Rates were significantly higher among younger adults, the unemployed, and those from lower-income households.
This reinforces the view of gambling as a public health issue, with harm stretching beyond individual players into households and communities.
Looking Ahead
The ANU findings confirm a long-term decline in gambling participation in Australia, but also point to growing risks in the digital space. With online betting now the dominant mode of play and risky gambling at record levels, regulators and operators alike will face increasing pressure to address the challenges.
For more context on how these trends fit into the broader business outlook, see iGamingToday’s Australia iGaming Market Research Report.
