Australians spent us$ 18.9 billion on gambling

Australians are now spending less on gambling overall than they did in 2002 according to the latest Roy Morgan Gambling Monitor. For the 12 months to September 2011, Australians spent us$ 18.9 billion on all forms of gambling, down from us$ 20.7 billion in the 12 months to December 2002.

Expenditure on betting on the races has remained relatively stable at us$ 2.66 billion as of September 2011 (us$ 2.76 billion in December 2002). Sports betting, although still small at us$ 820 million, has increased from us$ 410 million in 2002. The only other gambling activity to show a significant increase was casino table games at us$ 1.43 billion, up from us$ 717 million in December 2002.

Expenditure on lotteries/scratch tickets, at us$ 2.15 billion, has remained relatively steady (us$ 2.05 billion in 2002), as has expenditure on Keno at a club, pub or casino at us$ 410 million (us$ 410 million in 2002).

Jane Ianniello, Roy Morgan Research International Director of Tourism, Travel & Leisure, says: “The Roy Morgan Gambling Monitor shows that the percentage of Australians who gamble has fallen steadily since 2002. This decline in participation has caused an overall decline in the total spend by Australians on gambling.  In real terms this decline has been quite marked.

“The decline in gambling spend can mainly be attributed to a decline in spend on poker machines – playing the pokies is becoming less popular and less Australians are patronising venues like licensed clubs. The growth of online gambling, especially sports betting, has not been big enough to counter this large decline in poker machine expenditure.”