The global gambling industry is booming, and there are no signs of this trend being reversed anytime in the near future. According to the latest gambling statistics, the market size is expected to balloon to nearly $565.4 billion by 2022. These numbers aren’t exactly surprising when we consider the fact that a growing number of pandemic-weary gamblers are turning to the Internet to place their bets. Over the last year, the already popular online gambling market experienced a remarkable expansion and is forecast to nearly double in value by 2023.
Editor’s Choice: Top Gambling Statistics
- Australia has the highest gambling losses per capita.
- The gambling industry contributes $261 billion to the US economy annually.
- An estimated 19.3 million Canadians are actively gambling.
- According to gambling statistics in the UK, 32.2% of Brits aged 16 and above gamble at least once a week.
- Out of every hundred gamblers in the US, three to five struggle with a gambling problem.
A Global Overview
1. An estimated 26% of the global population gambles every year.
(Gambling.net)
It’s difficult to say exactly how many people gamble every day around the world, but some of the more reliable gambling industry statistics reveal that more than one-quarter of the population enjoys playing games of chance. That’s the equivalent of over 1.5 billion people. Of course, individual countries have different gambling habits, and some are more captivated by betting than others.
2. Australians are some of the world’s worst gamblers, with $958 lost per capita.
(Savings.com.au)
Australians love to gamble. In fact, as much as 39% of the population, or 6.8 million people, are believed to be regular gamblers. According to recent stats, Australians bet more than $184 million in a single year, with most of that money spent on casino games. Unfortunately, a lot of that money was lost too because Australians have the world’s highest gambling losses per person.
3. The gambling participation rate in Singapore has been hovering around 50% in recent years.
(Statista)
A lot of Singaporeans enjoy gambling, and statistics show that it’s among the top five countries when it comes to gambling losses. A survey looking at the gambling participation rate in Singapore between 2004 and 2017 found that 54% of the respondents engaged in some form of gambling during the survey’s last twelve months. The gambling industry has been expanding in this largely conservative country since gaming was legalized nearly two decades ago.
4. The 10% of the gamblers who placed the fewest wagers had the highest winning percentage.
(FindAnyAnswer.com)
A recent study involving 4,222 participants found that the lightest gamblers frequently walk away as winners. Of those that placed the fewest wagers, 17% won, and seven of them boosted their bankroll by more than $5,000.
5. 500 cheaters get detained in Las Vegas each year.
(Casinoz)
When it comes to gambling crime statistics, the numbers from the Nevada Department of Gaming Control show that hundreds of players try to cheat at casinos in Las Vegas. These stats don’t include some of the more minor violations that either didn’t get detected or didn’t involve the authorities. Most of the cheaters are visitors, but one-third of the fraudsters are employees at the casinos.
An American Economic Engine
6. The US gambling industry generates an estimated $261 billion for the US economy annually.
(The American Gaming Association)
Gambling statistics for the United States underscore the industry’s economic significance in this country. In addition to the billions of dollars in output, the gambling industry provides 1.8 million jobs and generates more than $40 billion in local, state, and federal tax revenue.
7. Americans bet around $3 billion on sports in a single month.
(The American Gaming Association)
Over the last year, another 36 million adults have been added to the growing list of Americans who can now place bets legally from their home state. Naturally, that’s driving up sports betting revenue, and according to the latest gambling statistics in the USA, a record number of Americans are betting online.
Gambling in Canada
8. At least 19.3 million Canadians are actively gambling.
(Canada Infolink)
Canadians spend at least $4 billion in offshore casinos and a whopping $17 billion at casinos in their home country. Some explain these high numbers by pointing to the fact that almost all Canadian casinos allow for online gambling. Just like in most other countries, Canadian men gamble more than women. However, female gamblers use their mobile devices more than their male counterparts, with 55% of women gamblers relying on their mobile phones.
9. Gambling generates more than $15 billion in revenue annually in Canada.
(Canadian Gaming Association)
If you think that’s a lot of money, you’re right. What makes these internet gambling statistics even more surprising is the fact that a lot of that cash funds government programs and services. This segment of the entertainment industry is expanding rapidly in Canada and currently supports more than 130,000 full-time jobs in that country.
10. 60% of Canada’s adult population partakes in gambling.
(Casino Canada)
Out of this number, 43% spend anywhere between $0.80 to $16 per month on gambling. Around 14% spend up to $80, while 3% wager more than that. Canadian millennials tend to gamble slightly more than others, spending an average of $98 on card games.
11. 65% of Canadian gamblers bet on lottery tickets.
(Casino Canada)
This is by far the most popular gambling activity in the country. Next in line are scratch cards (36%) and then casinos (22%), where nearly half of the Canadian gamblers (49%) play slot games.
Gambling Statistics in the UK
12. 32.2% of Brits aged 16 and above gamble at least once a week.
(UK Gambling Commission)
A recent survey examining the frequency of gambling in the UK and involving more than 1,670 people revealed that more than 20% of the adult population gambles twice per week. 30.8% of the respondents said that they participate in some form of gambling on a monthly basis, and only 14.9% said they did so less frequently.
13. National Lottery draws are the most popular gambling activity in the UK.
(UK Gambling Commission)
The 2020 UK Gambling Commission annual report found that the highest level of gambling participation was among the 45-54 age group. However, many of those participated solely in National Lottery draws. According to these UK gambling statistics, NL draws accounted for 30% of all gambling activities in the country. Other lotteries came in second with 13%, while scratchcards accounted for 10%.
14. 50% of online gamblers use their mobile phones.
(UK Gambling Commission)
The same UKGC report notes that mobile phones have become the most popular method for accessing online gambling. These figures only serve to underscore the continuation of a trend of increasing mobile use for gambling. Interestingly, this increase was recorded across all age groups except for those in the 25-34 category. According to the report’s youth gambling statistics, people aged between 18 and 24 are the most likely to gamble on a mobile phone (76%). Meanwhile, only 14% of gamblers aged 65 and over use a mobile phone.
15. Unfortunately, gambling is becoming more prevalent among minors. 11% of Britons aged between 11 and 16 said they gamble.
(UK Gambling Commission)
A survey conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the UKGC revealed that approximately 350,000 of 11-16 year-olds spend their own money on gambling. Their most common gambling activity involved placing a private bet for money (5%). Among the minors surveyed who don’t gamble, 56% said they avoid the activity simply because it’s illegal. Gambling statistics also show that playing slot machines is the first gambling experience for 23% of young people.
16. 48% of 11-16 year-olds have participated in a gambling activity at some point in their lives.
(UK Gambling Commission)
Among those young people, most gamble because they think it’s fun (55%). One in five, or 19%, said they get ‘a buzz’ from it, and 13% like the risks involved. Only 12% do it hoping to make money, and 11% think it’s ‘cool.’ These alarming gambling statistics also show that 10% of the minors surveyed gamble because their parents or guardians do so.
17. Brits spend an average of £2.60 per week on gambling.
(finder.com)
That amount adds up to over £135.20 per year. Those in the highest income percentile spend £4.20 per week on gambling, while those in the lowest percentile spend £1.50. The UK gambling revenue amounted to £14.3 billion in 2019, with the industry employing nearly 100,000 people.
Europe Gambling Statistics
18. Europe’s online gross gambling revenue is expected to grow by 7% per year until 2025.
(European Gaming and Betting Association)
In the coming years, the online gambling market will account for 33.6% of Europe’s total gambling revenue. These forecasts coincide with major investments by leading gambling platforms in European sports. Gambling statistics also show that mobile betting is only growing more popular and is expected to account for more than half of Europe’s online gambling revenue by 2022.
19. When it comes to casino GGR, France is ahead of other European states, generating around 2.3 billion euros.
(Statista)
Next in line is Britain with €1.6 billion and then Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands, which generate between €600 million and €700 million. According to online gambling statistics, the number of online accounts doubled in France in recent years and quadrupled in the UK.
20. Finland is another European state where the locals love to gamble. That certainly explains how the country’s state-run gambling operators recorded an annual revenue of €3,2 billion.
(Helsinki Times)
Finland’s top three gambling operators merged into a single company that’s owned by the state. This state-owned monopoly is generating huge profits, including €340 million from the national lottery. But the Finish government is putting a lot of this money back into the community. The Helsinki Casino is the only Casino in the world where all the revenue goes to charity.
Online Gambling Statistics
21. There 30.2 million active online accounts at licensed UK gambling operators.
(Statista)
A survey examining online participation in different gambling activities in the UK found that more than 80% of the respondents were spread betting. According to a separate survey, the majority of people who gamble online are in the 35 to 44 age group.
22. Online gambling in the UK is the largest sector in the country’s gambling industry.
(UK Gambling Commission)
The Gross Gambling Yield of the online gambling sector is £5.5 billion, which makes up 38.6% of the overall market. Casino games dominate the online sector, generating £3.2 billion in GGY, mostly from slot games. According to gambling statistics in the UK, GGY for remote betting amounts to a total of £2.1 billion, led by football and horse betting.
23. In 2018, the total EU-28 online gambling market generated €22.2bn in Gross Gaming Revenue.
(European Gaming and Betting Association)
That amount accounted for 49.2% of the global online gambling market. The most popular online gaming activities in the EU include sports betting (42.5%), casino (32.4), poker (5%), bingo (4.3%), and lottery (12.6%). Meanwhile, 43% of the bets made are placed from mobile devices.
Gambling Addiction Statistics
24. Three to five gamblers out of every hundred struggle with a gambling problem.
(Addictions.com, The University at Buffalo)
An estimated 750,000 American youths aged 14 to 21 struggle with problem gambling. Problem gambling rates for both adult and young males is 4%, while adult female gambling rates are 3% higher when compared to their younger counterparts. A gambling disorder can be effectively treated using a range of cognitive and behavioural therapies. Among the many alarming gambling addiction facts and statistics is the financial burden that it has on the US economy, costing around $6 billion each year.
25. 0.5% of the UK’s adult population are problem gamblers.
(finder.com)
Studies found that around 15% of online gamblers spend time gambling in the workplace. Another disturbing fact is that 3.1% of gamblers bet more than they can afford to lose. Gambling addiction is costing the UK hundreds of millions of pounds every year.
26. 28% of regular fantasy sports players aged between 13 and 15 are at risk of problem gambling.
(The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation)
Young people who make in-game purchases are at greater risk of developing problematic gambling habits. Some problem gambling statistics show that problem gambling symptoms were higher among those who spent money while playing video games.
There are a number of existing measures to prevent gambling addiction in young people. Some operators require all applicants to be at least 21 years old before they can open an online gambling account. Others carry out stringent checks to verify the identity of the applicant and screen for existing casino exclusions with the National Council on Problem Gambling.
Gambling Addiction Recovery Statistics
27. Intervention from the Gamblers’ Anonymous program produces an 8% one-year abstinence rate.
(medicinenet.com)
According to research, when GA is combined with psychotherapy that is administered by a trained professional, gamblers notice an improvement in their treatment. That seems to be particularly true when the approach involves cognitive-behavioural treatment. Psychotherapy appears to be more effective than any of the medications used to treat gambling problems.
28. More than two-thirds of people with gambling addiction tend to abstain from problem gambling a year after receiving six weeks of treatment.
(medicinenet.com)
With treatment, the prognosis for a compulsive gambler can be quite encouraging. Less than one-fifth of those who receive follow-up treatment for relapse prevention go back to gambling. Amid the increasingly troubling gambling addiction statistics for the UK, there is a range of treatment options and support groups available to those who want to stop gambling.
Final Thoughts
People love to gamble. So much so that the global gambling industry is expected to be worth more than half a trillion dollars by 2022. And with a growing number of easily accessible platforms, online gambling is fuelling much of that growth. This sector is expected to dominate the gambling market across much of the world in the coming years. Of course, this industry is also benefiting from those who can’t control their gambling habits, and while it’s generating millions for some of the world’s biggest economies, problem gambling is becoming increasingly costly for the taxpayer in the UK and elsewhere.
