Rise in Online Gambling and Risky Behaviors Among Australians
Recent research from the Australian National University’s Centre for Gambling Research reveals a significant increase in online gambling among Australians. Approximately 60% of the population is now engaged in gambling activities, up from 50% during the Covid-19 lockdowns. Although the gambling rate has slightly decreased from 61.3% to 60.3% over the past year, it remains higher than pre-pandemic levels of 65.6%.
Growing Trend of High-Risk Gambling
The study highlights a worrying trend in high-risk gambling behaviors. The proportion of individuals participating in high-risk gambling has risen from 11.6% last year to 13.6% in 2024.
This indicates a growing segment of the population engaging in more perilous gambling activities.
Surge in Online Gambling
Online gambling has seen substantial growth, with 33.4% of respondents reporting that they placed bets through digital platforms in the last year. Sports and racing bets are particularly common among online gamblers.
Dr. Aino Suomi, Director of the Gambling Research Centre, emphasized this trend, stating, “Online gambling has exponentially increased and should now be considered one of the main gambling platforms.”
Potential Harms of Unrestricted Online Gambling
Dr. Suomi expressed concerns about the potential harms of unrestricted online gambling. The ease of access to these platforms could lead to significant negative consequences if not adequately managed.
The research suggests that the accessibility of online gambling could exacerbate risky behaviors and related harms.
Impact on Others
The study, which covers data from April 2019 to January 2024, also explored the impact of gambling on others. It found that approximately 1.2 million adults reported being affected by someone else’s gambling within the past year.
Those impacted were typically younger (18-24), had lower incomes, faced their own gambling problems, and experienced feelings of loneliness or psychological distress.
Dr. Suomi noted, “Individuals who were affected by someone else’s gambling tended to be younger, earning a lower income, and struggling with their own gambling issues or mental health concerns.”
