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How much do Australians bet on sport?
- Over 500,000 Australians regularly bet on sport and 1 to 2 million Australians bet on sport at least once a year
- In 2015-16, Australians lost around $921 million on sports betting, not including racing, pacing or greyhounds
Who bets on sport?
- People who bet on sports are most likely to be men (88%), aged between 18 and 49 (75%) and in full-time work (70%)
- In a recent study, over three-quarters of children (aged 8-16) correctly recalled the name of at least one sports betting brand and over one-quarter were able to identify four or more
How many people have issues with sports betting?
- About 41% of people who regularly bet on sports have problems with their gambling
- About 23% of people who regularly bet on sports experience moderate to severe problems with their gambling
When does sports betting become a problem?
- A “bad bet” or a losing streak doesn’t automatically mean you have problems with sports betting. But sports betting can be a problem if it starts to affect your life
- Things that might indicate that sports betting is becoming harmful include:
- Spending more money or time on betting than you plan to
- Thinking about betting when you are doing other things
- Betting more than you can afford to lose
- Chasing losses or needing to bet more to get the same feeling
- Borrowing money or selling things to get money to bet
- Neglecting other areas of your life such as relationships or work
- Having health problems caused by betting, including stress or anxiety
- Having financial problems caused by betting (e.g. not being able to pay bills)
- Feeling like gambling has taken over, or feeling guilty about betting
What can you do if you think you (or someone you know) might be experiencing harm from sports betting?
Get more information
- Check how much you are spending on sports betting using the Gambling Calculator at Gambling Help Online
- Check whether you are at risk of having sports-betting problems by using the Self-Assessment at Gambling Help Online
- Check out the Helping Others section of Gambling Help Online
- Talk to a counsellor online using real-time online chat or email
Get some help
- Try the Self-Help tools at Gambling Help Online (anonymous login required)
- Talk to a Gambling Helpline counsellor by phone on 1800 858 858. They’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, no need to identify yourself
- Talk to a Gambling Helpline counsellor online – available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, no need to identify yourself. You can email questions or chat to a counsellor in real time
- Check out resources and support options near you by clicking the link HERE
Note: An anonymous login is required for online chat or email. Helpline calls from landlines are free. Calls from mobile phones may be charged.
Test your knowledge
Click here to take a quick quiz about sports betting – how much do you know?
Also check the related topics:
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