Gambling prevalence studies provide a snapshot of gambling behaviour, problems and harm in our communities. They are typically conducted about every five years.

In some Australian states and territories, four or five have been conducted over the past 20 or so years. These have provided a snapshot into how gambling has changed – and how it has not.

So, how has gambling in Australia changed in the past two decades or so, and where may we be heading?

In 1997-98, the Productivity Commission found about 82% of Australians had gambled in the previous 12 months.

Almost all further prevalence studies show the proportion of adults gambling has declined substantially over time.

The 2024 NSW prevalence survey, for example, found 54% reported gambling in the previous 12 months, down from 69% in 2006.

While fewer people are gambling, the proportion of people experiencing problems has not changed much, nor has gambling turnover.

In some states, gambling turnover has increased, even when you take inflation into account.

So while a smaller proportion of people are gambling, those who do gamble are doing so more frequently, and spend more money – a phenomenon we have described as the “intensification” of the industry.

As figures from the Grattan Institute show, the vast majority of gambling spend comes from a very small proportion of people who gamble.

Typically, the focus in gambling studies has been on “problem gamblers”, a term we now avoid because it can be stigmatising.

This refers to those experiencing severe problems due to their gambling, which is typically about 1% of the adult population, and around 2% of people who gamble.

This doesn’t sound like much, until you remember 1% of adults in Australia is more than 200,000 people. That’s a lot of people struggling with severe problems.

Based on recent........

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