Gambling is at an all-time high, whether at brick-and-mortar casinos or online. Casinos in Vegas and Macau reported revenues of $1.2 billion and $2 billion in August 2023, respectively. Meanwhile, the online gambling market is expected to hit a revenue of $95.05 billion by the end of 2023, a 17.6% increase compared to 2022.
Comparing online casinos with land-based gambling made us think – which countries are responsible for the gambling market’s massive revenue? Where do people gamble the most? What games do they play? These are some of the questions we’ll be answering today.
To find the top 10 countries where people gamble the most, the experts at CasinoTopsOnline focused on three parameters: percentage of gamblers, average gambling losses, and gambling gross wins. Keep reading to learn more about their findings.
United States
The United States leads the list when it comes to total gambling gross win, at $119 billion. According to Statista, lotteries, raffles, and slots are the most popular products, at 66%, 41%, and 32%, respectively.
The National Council on Problem Gambling states that over 85% of US adults have gambled at least once and 60% have gambled in the past year. Moreover, studies show that 75% of adults gambled while visiting Vegas.
Gambling in the US is regulated on two levels: federal and state-wide. Sports betting was legalised nationwide by the Supreme Court in 2018, with each state having the power to “act on its own”. Online casinos are legal in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Michigan, Delaware, and Connecticut.
Italy
Of course, the country where baccarat was invented has to be one of the world’s largest gambling markets. According to TGM Research, 36% of people in Italy wagered on sports in the past 12 months, 14.8% played the lottery and games of chance, and 23.6% bet online.
Casino games and slots are responsible for most of the market’s revenue. For instance, in 2020, these represented 82.4% of the revenue generated. In addition, the country reports a gambling gross win of $20 billion.
All gambling activity in Italy, including online casinos, is supervised and regulated by the Autonomous Administration of State Monopolies – Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stado (AAMS), in Italian.
Japan
It might not seem like it, but Japan is one of the countries where people gamble the most, with a gambling gross win of $50 billion.
The latest data by TGM Research shows that 9% of Japanese people bet on sports, 7.2% play the lottery, and 5.2% place bets online. The most popular gambling activities include pachinko, horse racing, and slots.
In 2018, Japan introduced designated gambling areas – i.e. casino resorts, with the Act on Promotion of Development of Specified Complex Tourist Facilities Areas. The Japan Casino Regulatory Commission supervises the country’s gambling market.
Finland
Finland has the highest gambling losses per adult in Europe, at $553. However, given the country’s small population of 5.5 million, the total gambling gross win is only $2.5 billion. A study by H2 Gambling Capital shows that 57% of Finnish gamblers prefer to gamble online.
Online gambling accounts for 58% of the industry’s revenue in Finland. The most popular ways to gamble include lotteries, scratchcards, and slots. Veikkaus, a state-owned company, operates the country’s gambling market. Still, playing at foreign operators isn’t illegal.
Australia
According to a study by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, 73% of Australian adults gambled at least once in the 12 months before the study. Of those surveyed, 38% admitted to gambling at least once a week.
The most popular ways to gamble in Australia include lotteries (64%), horse racing (38%), sports, betting (34%) and slots (33%), locally known as pokies or poker machines. In addition, 70% of the participants gambled on two or more products.
The Australian gambling market has a gross win of $18 billion. Online casinos are largely unregulated, as gambling companies registered in the country can’t offer their services to Australians. The ACT Gambling and Racing Commission licenses and regulates online betting sites.
New Zealand
Gambling is one of the most popular activities in New Zealand. It’s estimated that 80% of Kiwis have gambled, while 10% have bet on sports. Gambling revenue in the country is expected to reach $1.12 billion by the end of 2023.
Players from Australia and New Zealand have similar gambling tastes. Kiwis enjoy the lottery, horse racing, and online poker machines.
Although companies based in New Zealand can’t offer gambling services to Kiwis, players can legally register at international gambling sites and bookies. The only ways to legally gamble in the country include the New Zealand Racing Board and Lotto NZ.
Ireland
Irish people are big gambling enthusiasts, especially when it comes to sports betting. Many punters enjoy betting on the country’s most important competitions, such as the Irish Derby and the National Football League. The English Premier League is also a fan-favourite.
The latest data from the Health Research Board (HRB) shows that nearly 50% of the Irish population gambles. However, Ireland is still far from other countries regarding gambling revenue, at $3 billion.
Online casino gambling in Ireland is still unregulated. Betting sites can legally operate by having a license issued by the Irish Revenue Commissioners. The country is currently introducing a regulatory authority to oversee gambling activity.
Singapore
Singapore is one of the world’s fastest-growing gambling markets. The most common gambling products in Singapore include lotteries, namely 4D (also known as four-digits), slots, and traditional table games.
According to a study by the National Council on Problem Gambling, 44% of people 18 or over reported to have gambled in 2020.
Online gambling is only legal at operators licensed in the country. However, the Remote Gambling Act allows players to sign up and play at international casinos. In 2022, Singapore reported a total gambling gross win of $6 billion.
Canada
Canadians love betting on sports as much as they love playing casino games. The most popular sports include ice hockey and American football. Regarding other gambling products, most people prefer lotteries and slots.
Recent studies show that at least 60% of Canadians have gambled in the past. In addition, 56% of men and 43% of women gambled online at least once. Overall, the gambling market in Canada has a total gross win of $14 billion.
Players in Canada can gamble at international online casinos and bookmakers without any repercussions. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), alongside iGaming Ontario, are the only organisations that license and regulate online gambling – within their jurisdiction, of course.
Germany
Research shows that 75% of Germans have bet at least once. In addition, 19% of all bets are placed online. Slots are the clear winner, with 93% of gamblers saying it’s their favourite game. Other popular activities include football, tennis, and ice hockey betting.
Germany is a heavily restricted market, especially when it comes to slots. The restrictions include a maximum bet of €1 ($1.09), a five-second duration per spin, and no jackpots. The Joint Gambling Authority regulates gambling activities.
