Gambling Statistics Victoria
Monthly LGA EGM Statistics Gambling venues across Victoria have been closed since 16 March 2020 to slow the spread of coronavirus. Gaming expenditure data published during that time reflects these closures. Problem gambling in Victoria let's look at some statistics. The following statistics have been drawn from the Australian Government's Gambling Productivity Commission Inquiry Report 26 February 2010 Total Problem Gamblers 0.7% It is estimated that 0.7% 38,710 adults in Victoria experience problems as a result of gambling. Gaming regulations require that gaming machines in casinos be programmed to pay back no less than 80% and no more than 99.9%. For video gaming machines at locations other than casinos, the law requires a minimum return of 80% and a maximum return of 94%. Louisiana gaming statistics are not broken down by individual properties.
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The latest statistics on Australian gambling were released by the Queensland Government’s Statistician’s Office on 1 October 2016. Australian Gambling Statistics is a comprehensive set of statistics related to gambling in Australia that covers all legal gambling products. The Queensland Government has been compiling these stats annually since 1984, with the cooperation of all state and territory governments.
This thirty-second edition incorporates information on gambling in Australia up to and including 2014–15. It covers products such as pokies, casinos, race betting, sports betting and lotteries. Data includes total turnover, total expenditure, per adult turnover, per adult expenditure, percentage change in turnover and expenditure each year, market share of each gambling product and government revenue collected from gambling taxes.
Total losses, sports betting losses and pokies losses have risen, both nationally and in Victoria, between 2013–14 and 2014–15.
Recent research led by Deakin University’s Emily Deans on the influence of physical and online environments on wagering behaviour explored factors that may encourage risky types of betting. The team also analysed the relationship between environments and gambling consumption via in-depth, qualitative research with young male sports gamblers.
Factors identified with risky behaviour included:
- increased accessibility via mobile betting and apps, and multiple providers offering inducements to open accounts, leading to individuals having multiple accounts
- constant inducements to continue betting, delivered via apps
- a lack of a sense of reality when spending money gambling through online accounts
- the emotional appeal of gambling in groups in pubs and clubs
- being able to claim wins in cash at venues
- the role of alcohol consumption at land-based venues.
For more on this study and other research related to the risks associated with the new gambling environment, read You can get it anywhere … in this edition of Inside gambling.
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Stay informed about the latest research and statistics with our Gambling Information Resource Office’s GIRO alert.
Your RSG (Responsible Service of Gambling) course will teach you to deal with gambling-related incidents, provide a responsible gaming environment, assist customers to gamble within their limits, and help those who may have a gambling problem. As a professional in this industry it’s important you understand some of the key facts about gambling in Australia.
As an employee in the gaming and betting industry, it is your responsibility to enforce the RSG legislation. You will come across a wide range of scenarios within your place of employment, and you will be required to make judgment calls and provide assistance where appropriate. Before entering into the profession, or to keep abreast of the changing landscape, it’s important to understand what gambling in Australia really means.
What does gambling in Australia look like?
Gambling takes on many different forms, both online and offline. The more popular forms of gambling in Australia include electronic gaming machines (pokies), casino based games such as poker and roulette, lotteries, scratchies and online betting, particular racing and sports.
In 2010 approximately 70% of all Australian’s gambled in one way or another, from the one-off punt on the Melbourne Cup to the habitual problem gambler at the local TAB. Collectively we spent over $19 billion in 2008-09, with$12 billion of that on pokie machines alone.
Does Australia have a gambling problem?
The reality isAustralia leads the developed world for gambling losses, averaging $1,279 per adult gambler in 2014, just edging out Singapore ($1,243) and well ahead of the U.S in third ($705). The average problem gambler loses $21,000 per year, with 115,000 Australians classified as ‘problem gamblers’. A further 280,000 Australians are thought to be at ‘moderate risk’, and on their way to potentially becoming problem gamblers.
Are pokies the biggest issue for problem gamblers?
Regular pokie players are incredibly vulnerable to addiction with one in six classified as a problem gambler. Surprisingly it’s those aged 18-24 who spend more on pokie machines than any other age group, and 90% of women who are deemed problem gamblers identify pokie machines as the cause of their addiction.
But it’s not surprising given the sheer volume of pokie machines in Australia. Despite coming 53rd in terms of population, Australia is way out in front when it comes to pokie machine numbers. One-fifth of the world’s pokie machines are in Australia, easily having more per head of capita than anywhere else on earth, including gambling Mecca’s such as Las Vegas and Macau.
While pokie machines account for 60-65% of all gambling revenue, most Australians don’t actually play them. Almost three-quarters of Australians claim not to play them in any given year, which is surprising given they account for75-80% of all problem gamblers.
What is the impact of gambling on society in general?
There are two sides to every story. While the cost to individual gamblers can be extraordinarily high, and the impact to the Australian taxpayer was $4.7 billion in 2010, the gaming industry is also positive in many ways. For example:
- State tax revenue from gambling is between 4% (WA) and 13% (Victoria) of total revenue, money needed for countless statewide services such as school, hospitals and infrastructure.
- The online wagering and sports betting industry alone employs over 1,000 people, pays more than $100 million to the sport and racing industries in fees, and $100 million per year in taxes.
- In 2009, hotels with gambling employed 70,000 people, clubs with gambling employed 60,000 people, and casinos employed 20,000 people.
Enforcing RSG legislation reduces the social impact of problem gambling
Only 15% of problem gamblers seek help, but as an employee in the gambling industry, one of your roles is to identify problem gamblers and help them to address their issues. By doing so you could be having an incredibly positive influence on their lives, and the lives of those around them.
The impact of problem gambling isn’t just felt by the gambler, but also by 5-10 other people in their lives. Problem gamblers are:
- Six times more likely to be divorced than gamblers who don’t have a problem
- Four times more likely to have a drinking problem
- Four times more likely to be a daily smoker
- Ten times more likely to have children who grow up to be problem gamblers
Gambling Statistics Victoria Md
Studying an RSG online (SITHGAM201 – Provide responsible gambling services) course will provide you with the required skills and knowledge to recognise gambling issues in individuals, and provide information to connect problem gamblers with gambling support services. The difference you make to a person’s life could be profound, even beyond what you may know or even realise.