Australia has emerged as one of the most popular countries for gambling. Whether it be slot machines, poker, or sports betting, Australians have turned gambling into a favoured pastime, and it’s only getting more popular.
Whether they want to play games for fun or get more serious, there is a lot to know about gambling in Australia; here are some of the best facts and stats.
Passion for Gambling
Many Australians have turned gambling into a hobby that they are very passionate about. This is due to the accessibility of machines, especially slots. Gambling is also popular across the population, breaking race and age barriers.
While sports betting will be discussed later, being a sport-playing nation means many love to not only watch rugby, cricket, football or horse racing but really like to bet on it as well. Australia also has a thriving online casino and betting business, making it even more accessible and easy to participate in.
Aversion to Risk
Australians aren’t people who don’t believe risk exists, but rather people who weigh it up more than others. They understand that to be rewarded, you need to take a risk or two, and this plays into their gambling habits.
This shows in the popularity of slot machines; cheap games have a high chance of a big reward.
Machine Popularity
As mentioned, slot machines are the most popular machine in the country. They are found in all casinos and many bars and have a wide range of buy-in and payout amounts, catering for almost every budget.
Another reason they are popular is the same reason they are popular everywhere. Slot machines require little to no skill and can be played by a first-time gambler or someone who has been playing for decades.
Love for Poker
Surprisingly, poker is the card game of choice in Australia. It is blackjack or something similar in most countries as it is much easier to learn and play. However, poker has emerged as the firm-favourite card game amongst Australian adults.
Almost 50% of Australian adults who play card games, play poker, making it one of the most popular casino games in the country.
Online Casinos
Online casinos have been alive and well in the country for over two decades. First started in 1994, online gambling has been popular ever since computers and internet-connected devices became more prevalent. Online baccarat, poker, and slots are the most popular online games for Australians.
Unusually, Australia received its online gambling licenses from Barbuda and Antigua, and all online casinos still operate under Caribbean gambling regulations.
Most Popular Games
There are a number of casino games that are popular with Australians. Poker has already been mentioned, but a few others see a lot of action every day.
Slots
Slots, or Pokies as they are known, are the most popular machine game in the country. As mentioned, this is due to the tens of thousands of machines found across the country.
Slot machines are also incredibly easy to learn and, unlike most other games, don’t take any skill to play or win. You can also play for as little as a few cents or much larger amounts, with prize pools and payouts varying across all slot machines and types.
Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the oldest casino card games we still play today. It only requires one deck, is quick to play, and the only skill you need is to be able to count to 21. Although poker is played by so many people, blackjack is still a firm favourite.
Online blackjack has also exploded in popularity over the past few years, with more and more people tending to skip a visit to a casino and instead stay at home to play.
Sports Betting
Sports betting is also hugely popular in Australia. The country has a massive rugby fanbase, especially Aussie Rules, as well as a large horse racing following and a relatively big but less popular football scene.
While sports betting can have a lot of skill and knowledge involved, many Australians like to “take a punt”, as they say, and bet on their favourite team every now and then. Sports betting is relatively easy when doing it casually, meaning it is surprisingly accessible.
