Surge in Australians Gambling at Risky Levels

Research published earlier this week has revealed a big increase in the number of Australians gambling at levels considered to be risky.

The study by the ANU’s Centre for Gambling Research, headed by Dr Aino Suomi, analysed data on gambling habits collected from 2019 to January 2024. It provides the latest snapshot of Aussie gambling habits, covering periods pre, during and post Covid lockdowns.

Overall gambling participation rate across the country dipped during the pandemic from 65.6% in 2019 to 53.5% in 2021. This was largely due to lack of access to gambling venues from protracted lockdowns. The figure quickly rebounded post-pandemic to just over 60% where it has plateaued through 2022-23.

But while overall participation has remained steady, the number of Australians gambling at levels considered to be risky has increased materially from 11.6% to 13.6%.

The other key finding coming out of research was the growth of online gambling, described by Dr Suomi as having increased exponentially.

“Our data suggests a move away from venue-based gambling to activities that are readily available online, such as sports betting…This is the first time, on a national level, that gambling online has surpassed gambling in venues”

Calls grow for gambling advertising reforms

There has long been strong criticism at the lack of restriction on gambling advertising in Australia, and resulting exposure to minors and at-risk gamblers.

Long time anti-gambling campaigner and spokesman for Australia’s Alliance for Gambling Reform, Tim Costello encapsulated the issue succinctly saying, “This is the first generation of parents that have had to explain to their kids watching their NRL or AFL teams play what a multi is.”

It has become common practice on the major television networks for odds to be spruiked pre-match by sports betting companies sponsoring the telecast. Branding around sporting grounds is ever present.

Gambling ad bans have been on the Albanese government’s agenda for a while now. A parliamentary committee report that came out in mid 2023 recommended a complete ban. The Murphy report advocated for a phased approach to an eventual total ban with 4 stages recommended:

1. a ban on inducements (bonus bets etc) on social media and online platforms, then
2. a ban on advertisements during school drop off and pick up times (largely radio targeted), then
3. a ban on advertisements at major sporting events including ads and odds-related commentary during (and an hour either side) of the broadcast, and any uniform and stadium advertising, then
4. a ban on all gambling ads from 6am and 10pm before a blanket ban comes into effect.

There are strong vested commercial interests opposing the recommendations however. The NRL, AFL and smaller sporting codes have all come to rely on gambling sponsorship dollars.

Another issue, arguably more concerning than mainstream advertising is the rise in gambling among children through video games.

“Loot boxes or crates in games aren’t considered gambling in that regulatory sense,” Suomi said. “It’s a completely wild west situation.”