The growth of iGaming has turned gambling into a truly global industry from most perspectives. It means that when you sit down to think about which nations are the biggest markets, the answers are not intuitively obvious, unlike most multi-billion dollar industries. Confident that there is truth in the old saying that knowledge is power, we have pored through the industry data to uncover which nations are behind the $58 billion revenue that iGaming generates every year.
Australia
The old joke goes that if two flies crawl up a wall in Australia, people will start betting on them. It’s not far from the truth. Australians spend more than $1,000 per capita on gambling, significantly more than any other nationality. Despite online casino gaming being officially prohibited, Australians nevertheless spend millions at the top casino websites based offshore. Slot games, known as pokies, are the biggest real-money casino games, and sports betting is also very popular.
Republic of Ireland
While many nations have been scrambling to update their gambling laws for the online age, Ireland has taken a typically laid-back approach. Gambling there is still, according to the Gaming and Lottery Act of 1956. This means that casino games are only available at member-only clubs. However, most allow visitors to sign up at the door. As one of Europe’s major tech hubs, Ireland is also home to plenty of gambling enthusiasts who like to play in cyberspace.
Singapore
In 2010, Singapore opened its first casino. In the 12 years since it has become one of the world’s top five gambling nations. The Singapore authorities seek to aim casinos predominantly at overseas visitors and charge an $81 entry fee to locals, but it has done little to dampen their enthusiasm. The most famous casino is the Sands at the magnificent Marina Bay resort.
Canada
More than three-quarters of Canadian adults indulge in some form of gambling, although patterns vary quite dramatically between provinces. The highest concentration of gamblers per capita is in Saskatchewan. However, it is the province of Ontario that has taken the most decisive action. Earlier this year, it opened up an online gambling market, issuing licenses for casinos and sports books. In the first six months, around $10 billion of wagers were placed by eager Ontarian gamblers.
Finland
12 years ago, Finland had the unusual distinction of being the lowest legal gambling age in the world, allowing anyone aged 15 or over to place a bet. In 2011, this was brought into line with most other European countries and raised to 18. It gives an indication, however, of the relaxed attitude the Finnish have toward gambling. Traditional casino classics are the most popular, with slots, roulette, and blackjack occupying the top three spots. In addition, the state-run national lottery is widely supported, with profits channeled into education, culture, and art projects. There is also an impressive local infrastructure to support those certified to be battling gambling addiction.
