Gambling participation among Australian adults has grown steadily in recent years. According to Australian research, around 65% of adults reported gambling in the 12 months to 2024, up from 57% in 2019. In some states, the figure is higher still, with Queensland participation measured at 70.2% and Western Australia at 69.6%. The data points to gambling being both widespread and increasingly embedded into Australian life and local culture. Whether through national lotteries, online pokies, or weekend sporting events, it now appears as a routine activity and signals broader shifts in patterns of leisure and financial behaviour.
One explanation is financial convenience. Many of the sites on esports.net’s guide to online casinos accept crypto and eWallet deposits and withdrawals in a variety of currencies, removing the hassle of juggling exchange rates, bank charges, and unfamiliar systems. Depositing and withdrawing in local currency feels seamless, more like using a homegrown service than an overseas one while instant payout options and bonuses remain popular features. Familiar payment systems reduce friction, cut costs, and encourage trust, which in turn makes gambling more attractive to users. Platforms that emphasise AUD-friendly deposits and withdrawals show how strongly payment options influence participation in Australia.
Digital access has also changed how people gamble. With smartphone ownership now near-universal and high-speed internet widely available, social media usage, digital gambling, and other forms of online entertainment have become a practical option for almost every household. Despite the federal government looking to tighten regulations even further, online platforms and mobile apps mean betting is available at any time and from any place with an internet connection. This shift has extended gambling well beyond casinos, pubs, or racetracks. Australians can now engage with gambling on a smartphone or laptop whenever they choose. This local shift will have to be balanced and proposed gambling reforms weighed carefully against economic benefits.
Marketing has further reinforced greater participation in gambling. Sponsorship deals and advertising during major sports broadcasts have embedded gambling in everyday local sports culture. From AFL broadcasts to NRL club sponsorships, betting brands have become fixtures of sporting culture. Viewers are frequently exposed to promotions and inducements, making betting appear as a natural extension of following football, racing, and other codes. By increasing visibility and normalising the activity, advertising has broadened the audience and encouraged more frequent engagement.
The mix of gambling activities helps explain rising participation. Lotteries remain the most popular, followed by instant scratch tickets, poker machines, racing, and sports betting. Around 31.9% of adults gambled at least monthly, with lotteries (73.8%), poker machines (22.1%), and racing (17.1%) the most common among regular participants. This range of products spreads participation across different interests and age groups.
Taken together, these results show that the rise in gambling participation is not driven by a single cause but by several reinforcing factors. Financial ease, digital access, marketing saturation, and a wide range of product options all work to lower barriers and embed gambling more firmly in daily life. With more than 65% of adults now participating, gambling has become a common activity across much of Australia.
