The number of online gamblers in Australia has doubled over the past decade, at least that is what the Second National Study of Interactive Gambling has revealed earlier this month.
The study authors have talked to more than 15,000 Australian citizens and found that almost 18 percent of all adults have gambled online in 2019, compared to just 8 percent in 2010.
Professor Nerilee Hing, from CQUniversity’s Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, provided some additional background information about the results, saying that the increased number of gamblers has been driven by much faster internet speeds, which make online casinos easier to access, and smartphone applications, which make betting a lot more convenient.
Moreover, there are more and more options available when it comes to online gambling, including esports, skin gambling, fantasy sports and, last but not least, live dealer games.
However, lotteries remain the most popular form of online gambling in Australia, with over 10 percent of adults involved. Horse race betting comes second with 6 percent of all adults enjoying this, while sports betting is a close third.
The study also revealed the profile of the average Australian gambler: a young male with a better education than most, and an individual who is likely to gamble across multiple activities.
