A new report shows problem gambling is rising in Australia, with mortgage stress a large contributor to the increased rates among young people.

Research company Roy Morgan released a new report on gambling in Australia, which put the number of problem gamblers at 622,000. This is 2.9% of the adult population, more than the UK (2.7%), the US (1.3%), and Europe (1.3%). 

Estimates put the total gambling losses of Australians at over $1,500 per capita. This is more than any other country in the world. For comparison, Americans lose around $800 per adult. 

Problem Gambling Rates Increasing Significantly

The 622,000 Australians who fit the profile of ‘problem gamblers’ is up a significant 111,000 (22%) from a year ago, and up 230,000 from two years ago. 

According to the research, a total of 3,492,000 Australians (16.2%) are either problem gamblers or at-risk gamblers.

One of the contributors to developing gambling problems was mortgage stress. The report noted that over a third of problem gamblers are at risk of mortgage stress. 

Mortgage rates in Australia have climbed from record lows of around 2% in 2021 to over 5.5% in 2025, the steepest rise in more than a decade. 

Youth 3 Times More Likely To Have Problems

Australians under 35 are more than three times as likely to be problem gamblers compared to those over 50. 

The Australian government has introduced measures to reduce the risk of gambling among minors. Last year, the country updated guidelines around games that include loot boxes and other gambling-like mechanisms. 

Other countries have been considering similar measures with Spain, Brazil, the UK, and Singapore all reviewing gambling in games recently. 

Calls For Ban On Gambling Ads In Sport

There have also been calls to ban advertising in sports and esports in Australia to combat the rise in young people gambling. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanes, however, worries a ban will send bettors offshore. He stated, “What’s in our mind is the practicalities of whether people just go offshore, then there’s no revenue at all. 

“They engage in gambling with no revenue coming back at all. And it doesn’t solve the problem.”

In Europe, betting companies updated their standards around advertising last week, but critics argue strict rules are necessary to keep the industry in check. 

The Australian government collected AU$2.3 billion ($1.5 billion) in tax revenue from gambling last year, which may explain the lack of urgency to address the issue.