Study Reveals Online Gambling In Australia Has Doubled Since 2010

Posted on October 18, 2021 | 12:30 pm
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The number of online gamblers in Australia has doubled over the past decade, at least that is what the Second National Study of Interactive Gambling has revealed earlier this month.

The study authors have talked to more than 15,000 Australian citizens and found that almost 18 percent of all adults have gambled online in 2019, compared to just 8 percent in 2010.

Professor Nerilee Hing, from CQUniversity’s Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, provided some additional background information about the results, saying that the increased number of gamblers has been driven by much faster internet speeds, which make online casinos easier to access, and smartphone applications, which make betting a lot more convenient.

Moreover, there are more and more options available when it comes to online gambling, including esports, skin gambling, fantasy sports and, last but not least, live dealer games.

However, lotteries remain the most popular form of online gambling in Australia, with over 10 percent of adults involved. Horse race betting comes second with 6 percent of all adults enjoying this, while sports betting is a close third.

The study also revealed the profile of the average Australian gambler: a young male with a better education than most, and an individual who is likely to gamble across multiple activities.

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Consumer Protection Measures To Be Updated

The Commonwealth and State Governments are currently working on implementing the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering in an attempt to make sure best practices are implemented nationwide.

The National Framework will update consumer protection measures which will eventually lead to a reduction in gambling harm. A separate study examined the negative impact of gambling and its results showed that over 9 percent of Australia’s adults experienced some form of harm from their gambling. Another 6 percent declared that they had experienced harm from another person’s gambling habits.

Moreover, the study’s data showed that online gamblers are twice as likely to experience harm compared to people who only gamble in land-based venues. This information is to be used to further inform online gambling policy and consumer protection measures across Australia.

Source: . Gambling Insider. October 13, 2021.

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