Compared to many other countries around the world, the social acceptance of gambling is widespread throughout Australia. In fact, according to the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health in December 2022, “Aussies love a bet” was the headline for a report on gambling within the Oceania region.

Likewise, the culture and diversity which surrounds gambling has only grown during the ongoing digital revolution, leading to greater participation than ever before. When done so responsibly, wagering on casino games is regarded as an engaging and captivating form of entertainment, only matched by an enduring Australian love for betting on sports.

How Technology Has Shaped Aussie Gambling

Playing the latest online games of chance has become hugely popular at Australian casinos, especially via mobile devices, whether that’s a smartphone or tablet. Ever since the first online casinos emerged in the late nineties, technologies and trends have continued to evolve, directly contributing to how the people of Australia have embraced gambling online.

Like most avid casino gamers around the world, playing via desktop computers initially provided Australians with much greater convenience, granting the opportunity to enjoy this kind of gambling from the comfort of their own homes. Given the sheer size of Australia, making the trip to a “local” bricks-and-mortar casino might otherwise involve driving hundreds of miles.

This convenience was taken to a whole new level, thanks to the remarkable pace surrounding mobile devices and connectivity improvements, particularly over couple of decades. 2001 brought the first mobile internet connectivity for smartphones. Then in 2007, Steve Jobs and Apple released their first iPhone, forever changing the global digital and mobile landscapes.

Nowadays, it’s actually quite hard to imagine the world prior to smartphones featuring apps of every kind, including those providing the most convenient access to casino gaming. Indeed, the mobile gaming revolution has transformed the iGaming industry, which now caters to the varied preferences of a truly global audience. But in Australia, people have been swifter on the uptake than many other countries.

Australian vs American iGaming Markets

Current projections indicate that by the end of 2023, online gambling revenues across Australia and the Oceania region will surpass AU$16.20 billion (US$10.20 billion), based on recent figures via Statista. This equates to roughly half the comparative amount projected for the United States (around US$19.10 billion), despite the population of Oceania and Australia being just shy of 46 million.

Given the current US population is now above 334 million people, where another iGaming boom is also taking place, these numbers indicate how firmly established and popular gambling is among Australians. In this huge but relatively sparsely populated “Down Under” land, wagering on practically anything and everything has long been considered part of the national identity.

While that may seem like a generalization of sorts, there has typically been a more liberal and accepting mindset when it comes to gambling activities, throughout Australian history. Nevertheless, technological advances and the greater ease of access have also brought some pause for thought, leading to legislature and licensing changes, plus the need for increased regulation to provide consumer protection.

According to one recent survey, around 73% of correspondents acknowledged they had wagered on something at least once in 2022, while more than a third said they gamble on a weekly basis. Across the Oceania region and especially in Australia, gambling on sports or casino games is widely accepted within the culture of entertainment. In the years to come, it seems inevitable this cultural wave may eventually sweep America in similar ways.