A recent investigation indicates that over 10% of Australians had made at least one wager on the internet in the half-year period preceding June 2021.
The investigation examined the online betting habits of participants and discovered that overall participation rose from 8% in 2020 to 10%, as more consumers opted to gamble online, excluding lotteries.
Of those who gambled online, 44% stated they gambled less than once a month, 10% said they gambled once a month, 10% said they gambled every fortnight, 15% said they gambled once a week, and 14% said they gambled several times a week. Approximately 4% of players gambled online daily, while 2% stated they gambled multiple times a day.
The investigation concentrated on alterations in player behavior during the COVID-19 crisis and found that 16% of players gambled more online than before the pandemic, 6% said they gambled less, and 77% said their habits remained unchanged.
Sports betting was the most favored choice among players, with 57% of players stating they had bet on sports in the six months leading up to June 2021, while 55% had bet on horse racing online. Roughly 6% of players bet on esports, 5% bet on non-sporting events like elections, and 3% bet on fantasy sports.
During the reporting period, approximately 25% of online players had placed at least one bet.
Nevertheless, the ACMA highlighted that these findings did not differentiate between lawful horse racing wagering and illicit betting on other athletic contests. Amongst bettors, 37% were between the ages of 18 and 44, while 12% were 45 years old and older.
In regards to unlawful activities, only 5% of online gamblers had utilized offshore unlicensed websites or applications in the previous six months. This was 11% among individuals aged 18 to 34, compared to 2% among those 45 years of age and older. Another 6% indicated they were unsure of the location of their services, while 89% exclusively gambled with authorized operators.
The report indicated: “Our investigation suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia may have had some influence on online gambling participation.” “There has been a slight but notable increase in both the prevalence and frequency of online gambling in 2021, likely due to the enhanced accessibility of digital betting services, as well as expanded gambling features and increased betting advertising during this period.
“Moreover, online sports betting has recovered and attracted new participants as Australian sporting events returned to a more ‘regular’ schedule after the disruptions of 2020.”
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