Biggest Gambling Nations
Whenever gambling is mentioned, the glitzy images of Les Vegas come to mind. America has been considered as a gaming nation for a very long time. However, America is not the world’s biggest gambler as many would think. In fact, the biggest gamblers in the world include countries that are least suspect. The ranking of the 200 gambling countries is based on data provided by H2 Gambling Capital. The ranking takes into account the losses in a year divided by the adult population. The losses include the entire amount lost on all types of gaming including poker, slot machine, horse racing, and casinos.
The United States saw about $117 billion lost to gambling last year, although their per person gambling loss isn’t as high as some other countries. Apart from sports betting, some of the world’s largest and most extravagant casinos lie in USA, none more so than in Las Vegas, the world’s gambling haven. LONDON- (BUSINESS WIRE)-The latest figures compiled by the Global Betting and Gaming Consultants show that Australia is by far the biggest gambling nation on the planet with a per capita spend of. Arguably a surprise inclusion in this list, Finland is among the world’s biggest gambling nations despite recent measures being taken to try to bring betting under control in the country. 5 Top Countries for Gambling. The largest gambling institution in the country is managed by the Ministry of Education, so most of the profits go to culture, art, the development of educational. Several African non-Muslim dominated countries like Zimbabwe, Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, and Namibia offer casino gaming as well. South Africa has the most and largest casinos on the African.
The Biggest Gambling Countries In The World
Australia
Gambling is so prevalent in Australia that the central bank was led to increase interest rates. Australia allows online wagering on sports. Slot machines are favorite games in the country. New South Wales accounts for half of the country’s total poker machines. Adult gamblers reported a loss of $1,128 per adult with 935 gamblers registered to be banned from casinos between 2006 and 2010. However, these gamblers were caught over 1,200 times for breaching their ban
Singapore
Singapore only opened its first casino in 2010 but has since become one of the largest gambling countries in the world. The opening of casinos in Singapore created worries in the country, with the majority fearing addictions and losses. The government is discouraging gambling by the locals by imposing an entry fee of $81 for locals who wish to enter the casino. Families are also allowed to ban their members from visiting the casinos under the “Family Exclusion Orders.” However, these measures have done little to dampen the gambling spirit in the country. The country recorded $1,174 losses per adult in 2010.
Ireland
The casino industry in Ireland is entirely unregulated because the country depends on the old Gaming and Lottery Act of 1956. According to the law of Ireland, only registered members’ club is allowed to offer casino services. Bets on gaming machines are not allowed beyond 6 pence while the rewards for gaming are allowed up to 10 shillings. However, this law cannot be enforced since the Irish pound has not been in use as a legal tender since 1999. The huge losses by gambling adults which average $588 per adult have forced the government to start enacting laws that will help regulate the gaming industry in Ireland.
Biggest Gambling Nations Of America
Canada
Over 75% of Canadian adults have been involved in at least one form of gambling. The highest number of gamblers in the country comes from Saskatchewan. The province has gambling revenue of $841 per person above the age of 18 years. The popular gambling games in Canada include lottery and scratch and win. The popularity of lottery games in Canada has led to the government setting up initiatives to discourage giving of lottery tickets to minors as gifts. Canada recorded $568 gaming losses per adult
Finland
Over 41% of the adult population in Finland gambles weekly, according to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The minimum age for gambling in the country was raised to 18 years in 2011 from 15 in the previous years in a bid to discourage gambling among children. The national lottery company in Finland is a property of the government and is managed by the Ministry of Education with the revenue from the company channeled to education, culture, and arts. The Paf Group of Finland, running the internet gambling company, offers paybacks to its loyal customers who spend at least $171.40 on its site but are certified to be suffering from gambling addiction. Finnish gamblers lose an average of $553 per adult.
Countries That Gamble The Most
| Rank | Country | Gaming Losses Per Adult |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
You might already think you know the top one for this answer, but even I have to admit that I was surprised at the numbers involved in this list. So let’s tighten up our wallets and discover what is the world’s top 10 nations that spend the most on gambling…
10 – Spain (Annual Losses: £337.64 pp)
What you will come to discover about several of these nations is some gamble in different ways to others. Spain here spends most of the gambling money in sports bookies like William Hill.
Biggest Gambling Nations
9 – Greece (Annual Losses: £339.26 pp)
When you talk about gambling you might think of casinos or online gambling, but gambling has been of interest to the Greeks since ancient times and it is said that Poker originated with them. Most of their gambling money also goes onto bookies.
8 – Norway (Annual Losses: £361.87 pp)
This one might be a real surprise to most people as gambling in Norway is illegal for the most part! But there are still a few companies that are allowed to host casinos, but most the money spent is with online casinos.
7 – Hong Kong (Annual Losses: £406.30 pp)
It wasn’t until 1977 that people were finally allowed to gamble for leisure and entertainment. Even today it is tightly controlled by the government.
6 – Italy (Annual Losses: £417.61 pp)
One of the biggest gambling spends in Italy is a sort of bingo game called ‘Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia’, but let’s face it, gambling has been with Italy since the Roman times.
5 – Finland (Annual Losses: £446.69 pp)
In Finland, it is all about the lottos. Both national ones and Euro ones. Sometimes these lottos have jackpots in the 100+ million.
4 – Canada (Annual Losses: £458.80 pp)
It is illegal to run an Internet gambling site Canada, but that doesn’t stop the people playing it hosted in other countries and that is where most their gambling money goes.
3 – Ireland (Annual Losses: £474.96 pp)
When it comes to Ireland it is all about the horse racing. While they do have a national lotto and loads of online sites, the track racing is still by far the biggest earner of their gambling cash.
2 – Singapore (Annual Losses: £948.30 pp)
Stats show us that tourists spend more money on shopping than gambling. But it is the locals who are the gamblers in this country.
1 – Australia (Annual Losses: £1040.39 pp)
Australia possesses over 20% of the world’s gaming machines (pokies) and when it comes to poker many of the top players in the world are Australian. Probably because they spend so much time playing their pokies machines. Or maybe it is because Australians can keep cool while under the hottest of situations.