Discover the Countries That Gamble the Most

What countries have the highest gambling rate? Find out which countries gamble the most and explore the factors that drive gambling behaviour in each of them. Learn more about gambling in the world today!

By Cristina Possamai

  1. Australia $1,288.00

  2. Singapore $1,174.00

  3. Ireland $588.00

  4. Canada $568.00

  5. Finland $553.00

  6. Italy $517.00

  7. Hong Kong $503.00

  8. Norway $448.00

  9. Greece $420.00

  10. Spain $418.00

Many people associate gambling with Las Vegas, it’s important to note that America is not actually the world’s biggest gambling nation. Surprisingly, some of the countries that gamble the most may not be what you expect. The ranking of the top 200 gambling countries was determined by data from H2 Gambling Capital. Determine the ranking, we calculate the amount of money lost on all types of gambling including poker, slot machines, horse racing, and casinos in a year, and then divide it by the adult population.

Australia

Has a high prevalence of gambling, which has resulted in the central bank increasing interest rates. Sports wagering is allowed through online platforms, while slot machines are a popular form of gambling across the country. In New South Wales, half of the country’s total poker machines are located. 

Adult gamblers have reported a loss of $1,128 per person, and between 2006 and 2010, 935 gamblers were registered to be banned from casinos. However, these banned gamblers were caught over 1,200 times for breaching the ban.

Singapore

Opened its first casino in 2010 and has emerged as one of the biggest gambling nations worldwide. Although casino openings caused concerns about addiction and financial losses, the government of Singapore discouraged locals from gambling by mandating an entry fee of $81 for those who wish to enter the casino. 

The government has introduced “Family Exclusion Orders” which allow families to prevent their members from going to casinos. However, despite these measures, the people’s enthusiasm towards gambling hasn’t decreased. In 2010, each adult in the country lost $1,174 on average. There are also players from India and Pakistan, but most of them play remotely in 1xBet Indian live casinos and get good payouts.

Ireland

Casino industry in Ireland is not regulated because it relies on the outdated Gaming and Lottery Act of 1956. This law only permits registered members’ clubs to provide casino services, and gaming machine bets are limited to 6 pence. 

Gaming prizes can reach up to 10 shillings, but this law is unenforceable because the Irish pound ceased to be legal tender in 1999. Government in Ireland is implementing laws to regulate the gaming industry due to the large losses incurred by adult gamblers, amounting to an average of $588 per adult.

Canada

you know that over 75% of Canadian adults have participated in gambling at least once? Apparently, Saskatchewan has the largest number of gamblers in the country, with each person over 18 years bringing in $841 in gambling revenue. 

Lottery and scratch-and-win tickets are among the most popular forms of gambling in Canada, with lottery games prompting the government to establish campaigns discouraging the gifting of tickets to minors. Canada has also recorded $568 in gaming losses per adult.

Finland

According to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, over 41% of Finland’s adults gamble weekly. To discourage gambling among minors, the age requirement for gambling was raised from 15 to 18 in 2011. The Finnish government owns the national lottery company, which is managed by the Ministry of Education. 

Revenue from the company goes towards funding education, culture, and arts. Internet gambling company run by the Paf Group of Finland provides paybacks to its loyal customers who spend a minimum of $171.40 on their site but are certified as gambling addicts. On average, Finnish adults lose $553 per gambler.