Talking about the areas where casinos flourish, most people think of America and China, because these countries are located in the most famous gambling zones — Las Vegas and Macau. It would seem, and the most gambling countries in the world should be there. But it is not.
The experts from the company H2 Gambling Capital conducted a large-scale study and calculated in which country the most money is spent on gambling per capita. Of course, only the official data on the size of the regulated gambling market in each country (including institutions hosting Russia) was taken into account, and the total amount of bets per year was divided by the number of adult citizens. The results of the study surprised the scientists.
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Finland
Average annual per capita betting — $533
Popular gambling: lotteries, sports betting
The Finnish authorities do not just try to regulate gambling, they also try to prevent gambling from falling victim to uncontrolled consumption. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health regularly conducts surveys on gambling. Lotteries and sports betting are still considered to be the most popular gambling activities, but online casinos are rapidly increasing. Statistics show that more than 41% of adult Finns take part in some sort of draw for money or prizes at least once a week.
The country’s gambling industry was reformed in 2017, with the largest players in the gambling market merging into a large state-run group. This put the gambling industry under the full control of the authorities, but it did not help to reduce the level of gambling addiction. In 2018, the annual spending of Finns on betting exceeded $500 per person. At the same time, citizens of the country who lose more than 120 euros ($135) a year can apply for free medical care to get rid of gambling addiction. That is, income from casinos, bookmakers and lotteries are sent, including for the maintenance of social programs, among which stands and treatment of addiction to cheating.
Canada
Average amount of bets per year — $568
Popular gambling: lotteries, sports betting
Canada has built up quite a few land-based casinos, which are popular with locals and US citizens from the northern states who cross the border to relax at the slot machines, roulette and card tables. However, Canadians have a much greater love for sweepstakes and lotteries. According to research, about 75% of Canadians regularly participate in lotteries. These can be regular draws, instant electronic lotteries and paper lotteries (scratch cards).
This kind of entertainment is not considered something wrong in Canada and there is no association with gambling addiction. Moreover, lottery tickets are almost a traditional gift for underage Canadians who, like any teenagers, dream about pocket money and independence from parents.
The second most popular form of gambling entertainment in the Nordic country is sports betting. Canadians are well versed in many sports games and disciplines, and so enjoy taking their chances by betting on the results of important sporting events with bookmakers. Among the most popular sports bookmakers and betting sites are ice hockey, cross country skiing, speed skating, snowboarding and other winter sports.
Ireland
Average annual per capita betting — $588
Popular Gambling: sports betting
The Irish have always been renowned for their irrepressible temper, feisty nature and love of betting. Unsurprisingly, Irish sports fans are still renowned for their unpredictable nature. However, athletes from the Irish are also difficult to call calm and balanced, for example, Conor McGregor. Incidentally, it is his advertising contracts with bookmakers that have attracted even more attention from ordinary Irish guys to betting. They are the main audience of fans, who gather in pubs and sports bars to flush out their emotions during a match or fight.
There are also video slot fans who spend their time in the arcades. The total volume of bets here is much smaller than in the betting markets, but the total amount of money spent on all the activities in a year is large. For example, the Irish spent $2.2 billion on gambling in 2017!
Singapore
The average amount of bets per year — $110
Popular gambling activities: casinos, lotteries
Singapore’s experience in the approach to the development of the gambling industry is now adopted in many countries around the world. This Asian country has legalised casinos only in the early 2000s, but allowed only the best companies to do business. As a result of multimillion investments first-class gambling establishments with a full range of gambling entertainments for common people and VIP-clients have appeared in Singapore.
The authorities are focused on foreign tourists and try to protect their own citizens from gambling addiction. The latter have to buy a ticket or pay an annual membership to enter the casino, but even this does not stop the true admirers of slot machines, blackjack, baccarat, roulette and other games. The more so because the standard of living in Singapore is high and there is a large percentage of wealthy people.
Therefore the average annual spending on gambling here exceeds $1,000, which comes as no surprise to anyone.
Before the legalisation of casinos, the only legal gambling activity in Singapore was the state lottery, Singapore Pools, for a long time. Then the same operator was allowed to accept sports betting. However, it was the opening of the casino that completely changed the field of gambling in Singapore.
Australia
The average amount of bets per year — $1288
Popular gambling entertainments: slot machines, sweepstakes
The number of gamblers in Australia reaches 80% of the adult population of the country, with their proportion is approximately equal among men and women. The gamblers spend their time in Australia mostly in the slot machines, also known as pokies on the Continent of Green. Specialised arcades are ubiquitous and free-standing slot machines can even be found in supermarkets, bars and petrol station chains.
Betting on sport is another Australian passion. The nation’s premier football league draws millions of followers, which bookmakers love to take advantage of. In 2017, the revenues of betting companies exceeded a billion dollars and are still growing! Experts predict that the total gambling industry could reach $6 billion by 2020. The country’s authorities see the problem and are trying to combat it. In 2018, Australia introduced a ban on online casino and bookmaker advertising in the electronic media during daytime hours. So far, this measure has had no tangible effect in the fight against gambling addiction.
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