Gambling and betting are part of Aussie culture. It is deeply ingrained in the population, who consistently rank among the top spenders per capita out of any other country around the globe. Those who live down under typically rack up tens of billions worth of wagers every year across a variety of different betting formats. Whilst the views towards gambling are becoming a bit more controversial throughout the country, many remain active when it comes to gambling. Whether it’s a pastime, fundraiser, or night out with friends, wagering is diverse and plentiful in Australia. But what are the seven most popular forms of gambling in Australia, and what makes gambling so appealing to those in Australia?
The Pokies
An icon of the Australian betting scene is the famous ‘pokie’. These poker machines, colloquially known as ‘pokies’ in Australia, hold a significant and dominant position in the Australian gambling scene – much more than they do elsewhere in the world. They are electronic gambling machines which are typically found in pubs, clubs, casinos, and licensed venues throughout Australia.
Whilst the online gambling scene has exploded across the globe, land-based games and casinos have seen less traffic. Pokies online offer rapid transactions, mesmerising visuals, and unique promotions, but the concentration of physical pokies in Australia remains unique and stark for these traditional gambling hubs. They tend to illuminate pub corners throughout the land and offer a really accessible way for Australians to gamble. Unlike other forms of gambling that require people to attend racecourses or get dressed up for the casinos, pokies are placed strategically in areas where people tend to be anyway. The nature of the pokie machine means that bets are quick and prizes can be achieved really fast. This allows them to be engaging for many and provides a high turnover of players.
Despite only a fraction of the population engaging in pokies, Australia has the highest number of pokie/slot machines per capita in the world. There are around 200,000 working machines in the country, and the sheer volume of wagers that these machines take dwarfs any other form of gambling here. It is their tradition and engagement over many years that have cemented these machines in Australian culture and made them so iconic when it comes to talking about gambling Down Under.
Lottery and Scratchies
One of the most played forms of gambling in Australia is the lottery and scratch cards. These are widely more accepted as a form of gambling than other forms of gambling on this list and perhaps not quite viewed a wagering in the same way. After all, around 65% of Australian adults wager on lottery tickets every year. This makes them the leading form of betting in the country. The low cost of lottery tickets in return for the chance at such high rewards makes it a really appealing form of betting.
The tickets are inexpensive, and the prizes rack up into the millions. Equally, it is very convenient and easy to get your hands on lottery tickets. It is generally accepted and viewed that buying lottery tickets is a source of light-hearted fun rather than a serious gamble, which is perhaps another reason for its consistently high numbers of players year on year.
Whilst traditional lottery tickets are the more popular of the two, instant win scratch cards are also really popular in Australia. Sold at almost all convenience stores, these scratch cards see players reveal symbols for wins and draw punters due to their cheapness and ease. They offer players the chance to win right there and then instead of having to wait for numbers to be drawn.
Sports Betting
Sporting events are extremely popular in Australia. Aussie Rules, Rugby League, cricket, and tennis are all huge sports played throughout Australia, and which gather massive crowds at the matches. The fiercely loyal fanbases travel across the land to support their teams, and fans often enhance their viewing of these games with a cheeky punt on results, whether it is on their team or others in the league. The passion for sports is reflected in the wagering on sports bets in the country.
Sports betting has seen a particular surge in popularity recently, with the introduction of online sports betting platforms over the last decade or two. These online platforms provide punters with simple and quick access to a wide variety of markets that they would perhaps not otherwise have access to. The competitive nature of the online sportsbook market means that promotions and bonuses are plentiful, and those punters placing bets can get really good odds on fixtures.
This form of gambling is simple and is perhaps more visible due to the sheer volume of sponsorships and advertisements at sporting events and arenas around the country.
Race Betting
Horse racing and dog racing have long been a staple part of Australian gambling culture. Indeed, the Melbourne Cup has been dubbed ‘the race that stops the country’ in Australia due to its popularity over the years.
Betting on races, whether it be horses or dogs, is huge for Australians who have always traditionally been involved in this sort of wagering. TABs, which are nationwide bookmakers found in pubs around the country, offer punters the chance to place bets easily and conveniently. Likewise, thousands around Australia attend events at racecourses throughout the year, bidding for their chance to win wagers on the races of the day whilst they spectate.
The beauty of race betting is the variety of bets that you can end up placing. Ranging from simple win bets to more complicated race combination bets, gives punters the chance to customise and combine different bets placed. This flexibility is appealing to many, and the wider range of wagering options allows both serious and casual gamblers alike to take a punt.
Rates of race betting remain consistently high in reports and surveys from across Australia, which provide strong evidence to suggest it is one of the most popular forms of gambling in the country each year.
Casino Games
Whilst the lottery and pokies remain the clear favourites amongst bettors in Australia, casino games do hold their own here. Casino trips remain popular, and the number of those playing online casino games continues to remain high. Wagers on blackjack, poker, and roulette are amongst the most popular, with integrated resorts and smaller standalone casinos making up the land-based casino landscape in the country.
These games make up a substantial portion of the betting industry in Australia, with more seasoned gamblers and those willing to place larger wagers turning to these kinds of games. They are an important asset in the wider gambling scene within Australia and continue to grow with the online industry expansion.
The Rise Of Online Betting And Its Impact
Like many other countries around the world, the introduction of online gambling within Australia has taken the country by storm. Online wagering has completely transformed the way Aussies gamble, with those who wish to be able to do so from the comfort of their own sofa. The wide variety of markets that range from slots and casino games to sports and race betting, alongside the rise of e-sports and interactive experiences, all make for an industry that continues to grow in popularity.
Indeed, this form of gambling is bringing in a younger audience demographic to gambling, which has increased uptake in many games, and with the wider global fascination with things like the World Poker Championships and e-sports tournaments of popular video games aiding this, it appears to be the new favourite way for many to wager bets.
The Rising Change of Regulations
Australia’s gambling laws are a jigsaw of state regulations and federal laws. There are different restrictions and rules in place across the country, depending on what state you are in. Western Australia has cracked down on gambling more harshly than other states and has outright banned the use of pokies outside of casino venues in an attempt to stop more casual gambling and protect the punter. Despite this, sports betting and race betting have remained fairly accessible, whilst online gambling continues to grow at a rapid rate throughout. Many opposed to online gambling are seeking reform in the way this is managed by the authorities.
Final Thoughts
Australia is home to the ‘pokie’, but the gambling industry in the country is very varied and diverse. The very idea of gambling is embedded in the societal cultures of the country, and this is reflected in the widespread uptake and appeal of many across the country who do gamble. With most adults placing lottery tickets at least once a year and the rise of online casinos, it is clear there is an appetite for wagers Down Under. The continued use of pokies, placing of sports and race bets, along with those attending casinos, sees the gambling industry within Australia remain buoyant. Gambling reaches a wide range of people here and takes up many forms as this betting daft country continues to place wagers in the hope of winning big.