What Are the Largest Gambling Losses Per Adult in the Countries Around the World

It is proven that one of the world’s oldest pastimes is gambling. Researchers found out that the earliest evidence of gambling dates back to the Paleolithic period. Over the years, gambling sparked heated debates over its legality. Naysayers claim that this pastime is harmful to society as it can have a negative effect on people's relationships, work performance, and even physical and mental health.

On the other hand, gambling proponents suggest that lawmakers have to implement adequate laws to regulate the industry. To support their stance on the matter, they suggest that the industry increases employment and tax revenue. Next to that, the practice has shown that draconian anti-gambling measures cannot stop people from enjoying their hobbies.

In addition, countries with a regulated gambling industry can better estimate the number of people affected by gambling addiction and help them overcome the problem. Many countries reported that a growing number of people face gambling problems. But what is more startling is that gambling problems affect not only grown-ups but also adolescents. In relation to the addiction rate in the various countries, we will discuss the world’s biggest gambling nations based on their losses per adult.

Australia

Aussies are extremely popular for their penchant for gambling. All charts and statistics on the Internet show that Australians spend the most money on this pastime. Statistics reveal that the average person in Australia spends nearly AU$1,200 per year on some form of gambling. Interestingly, the most popular forms of gambling among Aussies are pokies (slot machines), sports betting, lotteries, casinos, and horse racing.

It was reported that Australians put a total of AU$640 per capita through pokies in the 2019 financial year. The other huge segment is casino gambling that accounted for just under $250 per capita expenditure. Stats from Australia revealed that the losses per adult reached $958 (AU$1,324) as of 2017.

Experts claim that the easy access to various forms of gambling in Australia puts the country first in global rankings for countries that gamble the most. The country has just under 200,000 pokies that can be found in various public places such as bars and restaurants. 

Hong Kong

According to a Statista report, Hong Kong is the second country with the highest gambling losses per capita as of 2017. It was estimated that the gambling losses per adult amount to $768. However, it is hard to accurately say how much exactly casino fans in Hong Kong lose as illegal gambling is, unfortunately, thriving throughout this East Asian country.

In fact, the country allows only several forms of gambling, the most common out of which are lotteries, horse racing, and football betting. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is the only legal entity authorized to offer these types of gambling activities. In other words, the gambling industry in Hong Kong is subject to a monopoly.

Singapore

Singapore is the world’s third-biggest gambling country. Considering the fact that it is home to two land-based casinos, it is quite surprising to see Singapore in third place. The government is trying to combat gambling problems among locals by imposing an entry fee of S$150 for Singaporeans who wish to enter one of the two land-based casinos on the territory of the country.

It seems that the measures work as a survey conducted by the National Council on Problem Gambling shows that the problem gambling rate in the country drastically declined from 2.6% to 0.9% from 2011 to 2017. In 2019, news agencies revealed that Singaporeans spend approximately S$1.3 billion in casino entry fees. As of 2017, it was estimated that the average gambling loss per capita is $725.

Finland

Gambling in Finland is a popular pastime. Based on statistics, the Nordic country is in fourth place when it comes to countries with the largest gambling losses per capita in 2017. It was reported that the average loss per person above the age of 18 years is $515. According to a study conducted in 2019, around 78% of the Finnish population aged between 15 and 74 participated in gambling activities during the last year.

It further revealed that 29% of the people who participated in the survey admitted to having gambled once a week. Some of the most popular forms of gambling among Finnish people are lotto, scratch cards, and slot machines. People aged 25 to 44 were the most active gamblers in 2019.

New Zealand

New Zealand is yet another country whose population is not indifferent to gambling. It was reported that the average gambling loss per capita is $454 as of 2017. According to recent information, 54,000 people in New Zealand are unable to control their impulse to gamble. For the most curious of our readers, the lotto is one of the most popular forms of gambling among Kiwis.

(Devdiscourse's journalists were not involved in the production of this article. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Devdiscourse and Devdiscourse does not claim any responsibility for the same.)