Australia’s Annual Losses to Gambling Grow, Hit AU$32bn

Despite concerns about the detrimental impact of gambling activities on people across Australia, significant changes to the sector are still being discussed. Last year, a report into the country’s gambling sector made nearly three dozen recommendations that can help reduce problem gambling and harm, while decreasing the billions of Australian dollars lost to gambling every month.

Total Losses to Gambling and Spending per Capita on the Rise

Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, recently defended a partial gambling ad ban, proposed amid growing concerns about the number of people affected by problem gambling. Yet, a newly released report reaffirmed the need for meaningful changes to the industry as a way to protect Australians.

Last week, the Queensland Government released the latest annual report compiled by the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Encompassing all Australian territories and governments, the report uncovered a notable increase in the losses to gambling, as well as an overall increase in the spending on the activity per capita.

Per the freshly released data, the total gambling expenditure between 2022 and 2023 increased to AU$32 billion ($21.6 billion). A year-over-year comparison showed significant growth in the losses, considering that for the 2021-2022 period, the losses were at AU$28.2 billion ($19 billion).

Notably, the losses per capita on gambling for the 2022-2023 period increased as well. While in 2021-2022, the total losses per capita in Australia were estimated at AU$1,395 ($940), the figure for the 2022-2023 period soared to AU$1,555 ($1,047). This marked an increase of nearly 11.5%.

Alliance for Gambling Reform Criticizes the Gambling Regulations

The concerning results captured the attention of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, a group supporting changes to the sector to ensure the safety and well-being of young people and vulnerable communities. Quoted by the Guardian, the Alliance’s chief executive, Martin Thomas, shared his frustration regarding the growing losses to gambling by Australians.

He warned that Aussies lose to gambling the most out of any other country in the world. According to Thomas, the losses are the result of insufficient and inadequate regulations that destroy families across the country. Finally, he criticized the Albanese government for not taking decisive action despite the recommendations made in a damning report that appeared more than a year ago.

“Australians lose more to gambling than any other nation in the world because we have a grossly inadequate regulatory regime in which the gambling industry has been allowed to operate virtually unchecked, causing devastation to individuals, families and communities.“

Martin Thomas, chief executive at the Alliance for Gambling Reform

Losses to Wagering on Par, Spending on Gaming Soars

A breakdown of the AU$32 billion ($21.6 billion) in losses to gambling points to a solid increase in the money spent on gaming activities. In contrast, the total spending on wagering for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 period remained relatively on par at nearly AU$9 billion ($6.1 billion).

However, a year-over-year comparison of the total expenditures on gaming activities pointed to a significant increase. For the 2021-2022 period, the total gaming spend across Australia hit AU$19.3 billion ($13 billion). A year later, the total gaming losses increased by a staggering 19.6% soaring to AU$23.1 billion ($15.6 billion).