1 in 6 Australians report risky gambling: study-Xinhua - 新华网

CANBERRA, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Around one in six Australian adults report at least one indicator of gambling-related problems, while online gambling continues to grow, new research has found.

The report, Gambling in Australia 2026, draws on a national survey of 3,482 adults conducted in March 2026. It found that overall gambling participation had stabilized at around 60 percent since 2023, but gambling-related risks remained concerning, according to a statement released Friday by the Australian National University (ANU).

Online gambling has become the predominant mode, with 35 percent of Australian adults gambling online at least half the time, the study found.

Sports betting and race betting were among the most online-based activities, with 90 percent of sports bettors and 71 percent of race bettors using online platforms, the findings showed.

The proportion of casino table game players gambling online rose from 5 percent in 2024 to 22 percent in 2026, while the proportion of poker machine players gambling online almost doubled to 13 percent, according to the study.

Lead author Aino Suomi, director of the ANU Center for Gambling Research, said the findings highlighted the need to focus on how people gamble and who is most affected, rather than participation rates alone.

The findings come ahead of major gambling reforms scheduled to take effect in Australia in January 2027, including advertising restrictions and an opt-out register. ■