Interactive
Australia – Gambling spend up in Australia as sports betting thrives
By Phil - 23 August 2016
Australian gambling revenue hit A$23bn in 2015, an increase of 7.7 per cent, fuelled by a 30 per cent rise in sports betting.
Australians lost an average of $1241 per head during the year with pokies still the favoured gambling pastime generating $11.6bn, a jump of 4.9 per cent. The casino sector generated $5.1bn with Melbourne’s Crown Casino accounting for $1.8bn.
Despite being the fastest growing segment, sports betting was still the smallest generating $814m behind racing at $2.8bn and Lotto at $1.7bn. Racing had the smallest increase at 2.7 per cent.
Analysts pointed to the popularity of mobile betting and takeover of Australian book makers by international operators from the UK and Europe as driving sports betting revenues with new entrants into the market upping advertising spend.
