Top 10 Countries That Gamble the Most in the World (2026)

Australia remains, without question, the world's number one gambling nation when measured by losses per capita. Australians lost an estimated A$32 billion in 2024 alone, and the problem shows no signs of slowing. Australians spend more money on gambling than any other nation on earth, with an estimated 300,000 currently suffering from gambling addiction and many more at risk.

The nation's love affair with online slots and “pokies,” slot machines embedded in pubs, clubs, and dedicated venues, is the driving force behind these staggering figures. Australia has one of the highest densities of gambling machines anywhere in the world.

The Australian Christian Lobby has warned that gambling losses contribute to family breakdowns, suicides, domestic violence, and widespread social harm. A proposed ban on gambling advertising remains stalled despite strong public support, with vested interests including state governments, media companies, and sporting organisations continuing to influence policy decisions.

According to Statista, Hong Kong is the second country with the highest gambling losses per capita, with losses per adult estimated at $768. What makes Hong Kong particularly interesting is that the legal gambling landscape is tightly controlled, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club being the only legal entity authorised to offer gambling activities, giving the industry a near-total monopoly.

Despite this, illegal gambling remains rife across the territory, meaning the true losses are likely far higher than official figures suggest.

Singapore has one of the highest rates of gambling losses per capita globally, with the average gambler losing $725 per year. It is a remarkable statistic for a city-state with only two legal land-based casinos. The government has introduced measures to curb local participation, including a casino entry levy for Singaporean residents, with problem gambling rates falling significantly between 2011 and 2017 as a result.

Gambling was introduced in Finland in the 1920s with the establishment of the state lottery, and the industry has grown considerably since. The average gambling loss per adult in Finland stands at $515 per year. A study conducted in 2019 found that around 78% of the Finnish population aged between 15 and 74 participated in gambling activities during the previous year, with 29% admitting to gambling at least once a week.

The most popular forms include lotto, scratch cards, and slot machines, with people aged 25 to 44 representing the most active demographic. Finland also has a significant addiction problem, with over 120,000 people registered for help.

Gamblers in Ireland lose a sizeable $490 per person each year, reflecting a deeply embedded gambling culture. As a result, the local government has moved to introduce stronger regulatory frameworks to better control the industry. Previously, Ireland had a very lax legal structure for gambling that relied heavily on outdated policies.

The country is also home to several major international gambling companies that have chosen Dublin as a base of operations, further underlining its status as a significant global gambling jurisdiction.

The average gambling loss per capita in New Zealand is $454 per year, placing it firmly among the world's most gambling-prone nations. Much like its neighbour Australia, New Zealand has a strong pokie culture, with slot machines widely available in pubs, clubs, and TAB venues. The country has made efforts to reduce gambling harm through stricter machine regulations and community-led exclusion schemes, though participation rates remain high across sports betting and lottery products.

For players seeking alternatives to physical venues, online casinos in New Zealand have seen significant growth in recent years.

The UK holds a unique position, as it may not top the per-capita loss rankings but leads the world in sheer number of active gamblers. The UK's total gambling gross loss stands at $18 billion, with remote and online betting now representing 52.3% of the market. In 2024, online gambling is projected to reach $16.39 billion in revenue, with annual growth of 4.05% expected through to 2028, according to the UK Gambling Commission.

The UK also has one of the highest proportions of under-21 gamblers of any country, prompting ongoing regulatory scrutiny and calls for tighter advertising restrictions around sport.

Canada has a well-regulated gambling industry, with over 100 licensed casinos operating across most provinces and territories. The majority are concentrated in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta. Canada experiences $12.4 billion in gambling losses annually, with approximately two-thirds of Canadians gambling each year, predominantly on lotteries. The online gambling market is also expanding rapidly, projected to grow by 6.39% between 2024 and 2029.

Ontario in particular has emerged as one of North America's most dynamic regulated markets, attracting major international operators since opening its iGaming framework in 2022. Read our full breakdown in the Ontario iGaming market report.

Italy is an often-overlooked gambling powerhouse with a rich heritage in the pastime. After reducing gambling law restrictions beginning in 2006, Italy has grown into a major gambling country, representing a total gambling gross loss of $19 billion. The country's gambling culture stretches back centuries, with traditional games like Baccarat tracing their origins to Italy, and today Venice and Milan serve as two of its largest casino hubs, with over 15 casinos between them.

Spain rounds out the top ten with a distinctive gambling identity. Rather than gravitating towards traditional slots and table games, Spaniards have a well-documented passion for sports betting, a natural outgrowth of the country's intense sporting culture across football, tennis, and motorsport. A wide variety of licensed bookmakers operate across the country, and the online sports betting market has grown sharply in recent years, with millions of registered players using digital platforms annually.