How much players spend without realizing the problem
Feature of the problem of "invisible" spending
Many Australians don't realise the extent of their own spending on pokies. The main reason is the gradual and imperceptible increase in amounts. Players make small deposits or frequent bets without fixing aggregate spending. As a result, from 200 to 500 AUD can go per month, and up to 3000-6000 AUD per year, while a person subjectively believes that he spends "little."
Behavioral factors that increase the problem
1. Process automation: Auto-play features and quick bets speed up spending.
2. Microtransactions: small deposits of 20-50 AUD create the illusion of low costs.
3. Illusion of control: players are confident that "they will be able to stop at any time."
4. Cognitive distortions: fixing attention on wins, ignoring cumulative losses.
Statistics on "unconscious spending"
According to research centers in Australia (including ACMA and Gambling Research Australia):
Differences between aware and unaware players
Conscious players - on average spend 800-1200 AUD per year and control deposits.
Unaware - expenses go up to 3000-6000 AUD, but in polls they call the numbers 2-3 times lower.
High rollers with unconscious behavior are a separate category: their spending can reach tens of thousands of dollars, but they attribute it to "entertainment."
Implications for players and market
Personal finance: debt growth, use of credit cards and microloans.
Social sphere: family conflicts, reduced quality of life.
For operators: it is this group that forms a significant part of the profits of casinos and online sites.
Result
In 2025, the problem of "unconscious spending" on slot machines remains key for Australians. Players who do not keep track of expenses spend 3-5 times more than the average, forming the main segment of problem gambling. It is they who most often become a vulnerable audience for casinos and marketing strategies of operators.
Many Australians don't realise the extent of their own spending on pokies. The main reason is the gradual and imperceptible increase in amounts. Players make small deposits or frequent bets without fixing aggregate spending. As a result, from 200 to 500 AUD can go per month, and up to 3000-6000 AUD per year, while a person subjectively believes that he spends "little."
Behavioral factors that increase the problem
1. Process automation: Auto-play features and quick bets speed up spending.
2. Microtransactions: small deposits of 20-50 AUD create the illusion of low costs.
3. Illusion of control: players are confident that "they will be able to stop at any time."
4. Cognitive distortions: fixing attention on wins, ignoring cumulative losses.
Statistics on "unconscious spending"
According to research centers in Australia (including ACMA and Gambling Research Australia):
- About 30-35% of slot players say they do not keep track of their expenses.
- Up to 20% of users underestimate real spending by 2-3 times.
- Players with problem gambling can have annual spending in excess of AUD 10,000, with many believing they spend "a few hundred a month."
Differences between aware and unaware players
Conscious players - on average spend 800-1200 AUD per year and control deposits.
Unaware - expenses go up to 3000-6000 AUD, but in polls they call the numbers 2-3 times lower.
High rollers with unconscious behavior are a separate category: their spending can reach tens of thousands of dollars, but they attribute it to "entertainment."
Implications for players and market
Personal finance: debt growth, use of credit cards and microloans.
Social sphere: family conflicts, reduced quality of life.
For operators: it is this group that forms a significant part of the profits of casinos and online sites.
Result
In 2025, the problem of "unconscious spending" on slot machines remains key for Australians. Players who do not keep track of expenses spend 3-5 times more than the average, forming the main segment of problem gambling. It is they who most often become a vulnerable audience for casinos and marketing strategies of operators.
