ACMA report shows an 8% increase in Australian online gambling
Australian Communications and Media Authority research revealed that one in ten Australians bet online.
Australia.- New research from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found that more than one in 10 (11 per cent) Australians reported participating in online gambling at some stage in the previous six months. That’s an 8 per cent increase from 2020.
The online gambling in Australia snapshot was undertaken in June 2021. The research also showed an increase in sports betting, with 8 per cent of Australians betting on sports or horse racing over the previous six months, compared to 5 per cent in 2020.
ACMA aimed to study the impact of Covid-19 on online gambling habits and found that 16 per cent of Australians who gamble online reported an increase in their gambling frequency compared to before the pandemic.
The ACMA also released a desktop study into affiliate marketing services that promote and facilitate access to online gambling services. The study found commissions for such services are substantially higher than in other industries.
The study also notes that social media and streaming services such as Twitch are becoming popular ways for affiliates to target gamblers.
The ACMA said it “has a role protecting Australians from harms associated with online gambling.”
In 2017, the ACMA started enforcing rules against illegal offshore gambling under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, which prohibit online gambling from being provided or advertised to Australians. Since then, ACMA has facilitated the blocking of 354 illegal gambling websites and 21 affiliate marketing sites.
See also: Australia: ACMA orders blocking of 14 offshore gambling websites
