How much Australians are spending on pokies in 2025

Australia has long held a reputation as one of the world's most gambling nations. Despite tighter regulation and increased awareness of gaming addiction, spending on slot machines (poker machines, or "pokies") remains consistently high.

Average Aussies spending on slot machines

According to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and state gambling commissions:
  • Total annual spending on slot machines - over AUD 13 billion
  • Average adult Australian spends around AUD 1,000-1,200 a year
  • Per player (of those who play regularly) this amount can reach 3,000 AUD and above

Breakdown by state:
State/TerritoryAnnual Spending (Approximate)
New South Wales (NSW)6. 4 billion AUD
Victoria (VIC)2. 5 billion AUD
Queensland (QLD)2. 3 billion AUD
South Australia (SA)1. 1 billion AUD
Other Regions<1 billion AUD

💡NSW remains the largest region in terms of spending on pokies - about 50% of all slot machines in the country are concentrated here.

Trends 2025

Online platforms with real slots are crowding out land-based machines, particularly in Queensland and Western Australia.
Mobile slots have become the main way of playing for young people (18-30 years old).
Cryptocurrency deposits and PayID make it easier to access casinos by increasing the frequency of bets.

Why are Australians spending so much?

Reasons for high costs:
  • Cultural perception: Pokies are part of Australian life (especially in pubs)
  • High availability of machines: more than 190,000 pokies nationwide
  • Near-win effect and attractive mechanics
  • Aggressive bonuses and loyalty programs

Impact and controls

States implement rate limits, session timers and self-exclusion features
In 2025, mandatory registration of players by ID is actively discussed to track losses
Campaigns launched to play responsibly and prevent addiction

Conclusion

Australians continue to spend billions on slot machines - both at ground clubs and online. This trend requires a balance between freedom of choice, the entertainment industry and responsible regulation. If you play - play consciously and wisely.

Main Topics

Average spend per player

Current estimate of average annual spend per adult on slot machines in Australia: ~ A $1,970 per year. Step-by-step calculation method, initial data (loss of players, share of adults playing "poker"), assumptions and range of values.

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Expense by Slot Type

Counting spending on slots in Australia by channel: club (pubs/hotels), land in casinos and online. Here are the amounts, shares and alignment by state, as well as the legal status of online slots in 2025.

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Spending men/women on machines

Analysis of gender differences in spending on slot machines in Australia: women spend more ($285 vs $209 per month, among regulars), men participate more often, but lose less. Based on 2022 data.

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Spending by age

Review of the average monthly expenditure on "pokies" among Australians by age: 18-34 years old - A $500, 35-54 - A $400, 55 + - A $400. The costs of adolescents (12-19 years old) are also considered.

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High roller costs

Analysis of high-roller spending in Australia: minimum bets A $50,000-75,000, extreme limits up to A $300,000 per bet, impact on casino income - up to 30%, VIP privileges and lending.

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Online vs offline spending

Comparative analysis of turnover and losses on online slots (~ A $12 billion) and traditional machines in pubs, clubs and casinos (> A $12 billion in 2022-23), the share of online players (~ 17%), the growth of the online segment from 2020.

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Spending: +/- 2024

Monitoring changes in spending on slot machines: trend + 5. 7% in NSW in Q1 2025, record losses> A $1 billion in SA (2024-25), + 7. 6% to 2018-23 levels nationwide.

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Inflation and gambling spending

Despite the decline in inflation to ~ 2-3%, real gambling costs grew faster: average losses for excitement - + 25% (2019-23), CPI for the same period - + 16%. Real spending on pokies is growing faster than revenue growth.

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Time wasting

Breakdown of expenses for pokies by time of day: 24% sessions for malicious players fall at night - 0-8 in the morning, with an evening peak of 18-21 hours. High spending at night correlates with high risk.

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Peak months pokies

Peak spending on slot machines is recorded in Australia in July and August (Queensland), as well as December (Northern Territory). In Fraser Coast (2024) for January, losses - over A $8 million. Seasonality is associated with tourist flow and holidays.

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Effect of bonuses on spending

Bonus offers and incentives (for example, "bonus bets") incline players to additional costs: almost 60% underestimate the total cost, the advertising format affects perception, and difficult conditions increase the total volume of bets.

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Beginners vs experienced spend

Beginners (≤2 years) spend an average of A $125/month on pokies; experienced (years of regular play) - up to A $500. 81. 9% of experienced players are classified as at risk, and they are 4 times more likely to use credit cards.

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Mobile spending pokies

Analysis of expenses through mobile applications: in 2021, Australians spent US $302 million on mobile slots, per-capita online gambling ≈ A $397. 5, while pokie machine turnover rose by 20. 9 %.

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Rates per session

On average, players spend A $140 per session and set an A $100 limit. The maximum bet is usually A $1 or A $5. The session lasts about 2 hours. Eloquent numbers without guesswork.

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AUD deposit expenses

Regular pokies players on average withdraw A $200 per session (median) for the game. Payment - cash (82. 8%), debit (51. 9%), credit (19. 4 %). Online deposits through mobile social casinos reach US $302 million, and per-capita online gambling - about A $397. 5.

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RTP: offline vs online

RTP on Australian pokies - minimum 85 - 87. 5% (up to 90% in casinos), online slots offer ~ 95 - 98% RTP. This means 10-15% of average offline losses and 2-5% online. In short sessions, results can vary greatly.

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Total loss without output

Players who do not withdraw winnings lose 100% of their investment. Even with an RTP of 90-98%, the chances of maintaining balance disappear with prolonged play: each rotation increases the mathematical loss. Without withdrawing winnings, the casino receives the entire amount of deposits.

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VIP-expenses

VIP programs and exclusive features in casinos form a significant share of player spending. Australians who participate in such programs contribute thousands of AUD a month to receive personalized bonuses, cashback, access to closed tournaments and perks.

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