Top 20 percent make up majority of Australia gambling spend

The top 20 percent of heavy gamblers in Australia account for almost 90 percent of the country’s gambling spend of $16.3 billion, according to the Roy Morgan Gambling Monitor. Medium gamblers make up 40 percent of gamblers but only 11 percent of total annual spend, and light gamblers also make up 40 percent of gamblers but just 1 percent of spend. “The fact that the bulk of Australia’s gambling revenue is generated from just 20 percent of gamblers illustrates that although heavy and even problem gamblers certainly exist, most Australians are not big spenders when it comes to gambling,” said Jane Ianniello, International Director of Tourism, Travel & Leisure, Roy Morgan Research. Light gamblers tend to be those who buy lottery tickets (81 percent) and an occasional scratch ticket (26 percent) in an average three-month period but rarely partake in other types of gambling. By contrast, heavy gamblers participate in many types of gambling, especially poker machines (80 percent), lottery tickets (69 percent), and betting (40 percent).