More Than 620,000 Australians Are Now Facing Problem Gambling, New Data Shows

The latest Roy Morgan report suggests that approximately 2.9% of Australian adults show signs of problem gambling. When combined with those at moderate or low risk, the total number of Australians affected by gambling issues rises to over 3.4 million, or 16.2% of the adult population. This represents a steady year-on-year increase, from 1.9% in 2022-23 to 2.4% in 2023-24, and now 2.9% in 2024-25.

Based on the report, around 1,610,000 adults are considered ‘low-risk gamblers,’ down 149,000 (-8%) from a year ago and 196,000 from two years ago. Meanwhile, those in the ‘moderate-risk’ category have decreased slightly by 17,000 (-1%) from last year but are up 180,000 compared to two years ago.

The data indicate that younger Australians are disproportionately affected by problem gambling. While more than five-in-six Australian adults (83.9%) are either ‘non-problem gamblers’ (46.8%) or don’t gamble at all (37.1%), individuals aged 25-34 have the highest incidence of problem gambling at 4.9%, closely followed by those aged 18-24 at 4.6%.

In contrast, the rate of individuals affected by problem gambling drops significantly among older age groups, with only 1.4% of people aged 50-64 at risk, and 0.7% of those aged 65 and above reporting problem gambling behaviours.

Gambling is a popular pastime for many Australians, but it also represents a significant financial activity. According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies, however, nearly half of people who gamble fall into low, moderate, or high-risk categories, showing that there’s a wide spectrum of experiences.

On a national scale, Australians spend more than $31 billion on gambling each year, which is a number that surpasses how much the government spends on aged care, showing just how important gambling is in the country’s economy. And while these numbers highlight the scale of gambling in the country, they also show its role as a major source of entertainment for many.

The evolution of iGaming has made participation more accessible, with online casinos and mobile apps being easier to reach than ever before. According to the Roy Morgan research, however, a relatively small portion of players generate a big share of the industry revenue, with around 12% of players contributing nearly half of the total intake. These numbers further show that the gambling patterns vary depending on the individual and the type of gambling they partake in.

The research is based on interviews with more than 16,000 Australian adults (1,300 per month), with the goal being to monitor gambling participation and trends over time. The study also aims to show how the gambling behaviour changes over time, such as the increased participation in online betting platforms, and how these changes can affect the risk levels across different demographic groups.

The rise to over 620,000 problem gamblers in Australia shows that gambling-related harm is a reality for a significant number of people. What these numbers also show is that Australia’s gambling scene is clearly growing, and with it, the number of people facing gambling-related harm.

What matters now is keeping the balance: enjoying casino games while playing responsibly. The rise to over 620,000 problem gamblers in Australia shows that gambling-related harm is a growing concern, and one reason for the increase could be that responsible gambling tools and education in Australia haven’t truly kept pace with the rapid growth of online and mobile betting options.

The country has the right ideas in place, but the awareness just isn’t there yet. Until responsible gambling tools are more widely used, the numbers are unlikely to change much. Gambling isn’t going anywhere, so the focus now needs to be on helping people play responsibly.