Sports betting is fuelling an explosion of gambling harm

Through sports betting, gambling is being normalised as part of sport and social interactions, and glamourised through advertising. Sports betting is easily accessible through phones and devices.

A 2021 report from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found an increase in Australians engaging in sports betting, with 8% betting on sports or racing in the previous six months, compared to 5% in 2020; and more than 1 in 10 Australians (11%) reporting participation in online gambling in the previous six months, up from 8% in 2020.

As more people engage in sports betting, so too do the number of people being harmed by gambling.
The Australian Institute of Family Studies has reported that 41% of all people regularly betting on sports experienced one or more harms from gambling. The total number of people at risk from gambling harm is estimated to be 1.1 million Australians.

And the experts agree, a recent survey of specialist Gambling Financial Counsellors conducted by Financial Counselling Australia found that 85% of Counsellors were very concerned about the impact of sports betting. Wesley Mission’s Gambling Counsellors are seeing more young men and teenagers in high-school experiencing gambling harm.