Aussies love a bit of a gamble. There are a myriad of different things that they can bet on too. From casinos and pokies through to sports betting, there’s actually something for everyone. But which sports or games are the ones that stand out from the rest? 
Big spenders
To get some perspective on the scale of Aussie gambling, it’s a good idea to look at the industry’s value. The latest confirmed figures on the value of gambling in Australia are from 2020. These figures specifically cover casinos and electronic gambling machines as well as online gambling on pokies, lotto and other games. In fact, this is such an important part of Aussie life that a whopping $17 billion was spent on these games in the 2019-2020 financial year. And that didn’t even include sports wagering.
Overall, in 2020 it was calculated that over $5 billion was provided to the Aussie economy in taxation revenue across all forms of gambling. This helps to make Australia a really good place for investing in betting as you might imagine. So, with a predisposition to gamble, where is most of the money actually spent?
Online games and pokies
Games are a big one. As mentioned, a hefty portion of online gambling was on casino games. Pokies are popular everywhere. And the same is true right here in Australia. Part of the reason for this is simply that they’re easy to play. Luck-based and filled with various bonus features, these games provide a fun way to pass the time and get a payout. Better still, there are some whopping jackpots out there to claim. Yes, we’re looking at Mega Moolah or Divine Fortune.
In short, electronic games are easily the top spend for Aussies. Not only can these games be found online, but pokies are also available in most casinos, clubs and pubs. With such high accessibility, it’s no wonder there is some big spending here.
Sports of all types
Coming in second to pokies is sports betting. Of course, the Aussies are avid sports fans and have a number of top sports in their country. Big events include cricket, specifically the Ashes, rugby league and Aussie Rules football. Smaller sports include rugby union and football, both of which fluctuate in terms of betting popularity depending on the season and the events available.
However, all of these pale in comparison to racing.
Putting your money on the horses
It’s very common to find Aussies betting on different racing events. This comes as no surprise as there is a strong history of horse racing in the country. Racing events are popular for numerous reasons though, not just for betting. On top of this racing is a great way to socialise and to also show off fashion statements. But of course, for many the main draw is the horses. And this is both at the track as well as online.
There are many prestigious events throughout the country that draw in a big betting crowd. None more so than the Melbourne Cup Carnival. This is a festival lasting a few days and its main race is held on the first Tuesday of November every single year. It’s so popular that it’s actually a national holiday. Even those who don’t usually bet on horses are known to place a small bet of a dollar or two on this race.
Of course, there are an array of other races and events available throughout the year. And this isn’t just horses, but greyhounds too. No matter what is bet on though, it’s getting increasingly popular.
Aussie regulations
Gambling as a whole is made possible thanks to federal laws and regulations in place within the country. Without them, the gambling industry wouldn’t have been able to flourish or provide players with the range of options they have today.
However, as Australia is so large, each state does have its own gambling regulations in place as well. This means that there are caps in place when it comes to betting on horses or pokies, depending on the state. With the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 in place, Aussie gambling options are still actually limited in some areas. This is because some online gambling services are restricted meaning players have to do a lot of their betting in person.
With regulations expanding to allow online sports betting and casino sites, the industry is only getting bigger. Maybe there will be a change in what Aussies prefer to bet on in the future. But for now, pokies and horses are still winning this race and quite impressively too.