According to the latest research report by the Australian Gambling Research Centre (AGRC) and the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), the participation rate of gambling among Australian adults has risen in 2024, and gambling-related harm is also showing an increasing trend. The study, based on survey data from 3,881 Australian adults, reveals the current state and impact of gambling behavior in Australia.
Participation Rate and Trend Changes
Data from 2024 shows that 65.1% of Australian adults participated in at least one gambling activity in the past year, an increase of 8 percentage points from 57% in 2019. The study indicates that the gambling participation rate has been continuously rising over the past few years.
Preferences in Gambling Forms
Lotteries are the most popular form of gambling, with a participation rate of 52.7%. Scratch cards come second at 24.5%, higher than slot machines at 19.8%. Horse racing betting and sports betting have participation rates of 17.8% and 12.5% respectively, showing the preferences of Australians for different forms of gambling.
Regional Participation Rate Differences
Queensland has the highest gambling participation rate at 70.2%, followed closely by Western Australia and South Australia at 69.9% and 67.9% respectively. Regional data shows significant differences in gambling participation rates across different states and territories.
Frequency of Gambling and Demographic Characteristics
31.9% of Australian adults participate in gambling activities at least once a month. Among "regular gamblers," 73.8% purchase lottery tickets, 22.1% play slot machines, and 17.1% engage in horse racing betting. These figures reflect the participation characteristics of different gambling forms.
Gambling Harm and Risk Assessment
The study shows that 15% of survey participants are classified as "at risk" of gambling or have already suffered gambling-related harm. Specifically, 7.6% of players are at low risk, 4.8% at medium risk, and 2.6% at high risk. Risk assessments are conducted using the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI).
Characteristics of Risk Groups
Individuals aged 35 and above who gamble frequently are more likely to be classified as low or medium risk. However, 17.8% of young players aged 18-24 face a higher risk, indicating that this age group is particularly vulnerable. Gender analysis shows that 9.3% of frequently gambling men are at high risk, compared to 5.8% of women.
Association between Gambling and Domestic Violence
The study finds that 18.9% of respondents report that their partner gambles weekly and has committed intimate partner violence, while only 6.8% of partners who gamble infrequently do so. This indicates a correlation between frequent gambling behavior and the incidence of domestic violence.
Financial Impact and Economic Loss
65.9% of high-risk gamblers report financial problems, significantly higher than the low-risk (24.1%) and medium-risk (33.9%) groups. Even non-risk gamblers report financial difficulties at 15.5%, indicating a general association between gambling behavior and financial issues.
Expert Recommendations and Countermeasures
Liz Neville, director of AIFS, states that these findings emphasize the need to improve measures to address gambling harm, including enhanced monitoring of gamblers. AGRC researcher Gabriel Tillman points out that over three million Australian adults are suffering from gambling harm, necessitating stronger measures to assist affected individuals, families, and communities.
