This research summary presents findings from the 2022 National Gambling Trends Study surveys of Australian adults who gambled regularly on pokies or online on sports or races. The research involved asking people, "Are there any emerging trends that you are aware of in gambling?" and additional questions around their views on the normalization of gambling, gambling availability/accessibility, and marketing/advertising.
Some main emerging trends identified included:
- An increase in online gambling participation and accessibility, especially through gambling apps and an increase in the number of online operators
- Excessive marketing for online betting (i.e., advertisements and sponsorships, and promotions or incentives)
- Concerns about the risk of gambling-related harm to young people and others
- An increase in land-based pokies, often with features that encourage increased expenditure (e.g. jackpots, higher stakes) and more attractive designs.
Some main ideas for future directions in gambling included:
- Ban gambling advertising or reduce/restrict gambling advertising
- Make gambling less accessible/harder to access and strengthen gambling regulations
- Ban pokies in pubs, clubs and hotels (only allowing them in casinos)
- Introduce more regulations and measures to prevent and reduce gambling-related harm
- Reduce the number of pokies in venues
