Pokies, casino and lotteries gambling

Every year the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) publishes expenditure data on legal gambling products in Victoria, including pokies, casino games and lotteries.

The data shows that pokies losses were $2.699 billion in 2018-19. Pokies losses decreased in 2019–20 ($1.988 billion), 2020–21 ($1.565 billion) and 2021-22 ($2.237 billion) due to COVID-19-related venue closures. Following the end of COVID-19-related closures, pokies losses increased to $3.022 billion in 2022-23.

Casino losses (table games and pokies) were $1.679 billion in 2018–19. Casino losses decreased in 2019–20 ($1.235 billion), 2020–21 ($399 million) and 2021-22 ($645 million) due to COVID-19-related closures. Following the end of COVID-19-related closures, casino losses increased to $983 million in 2022-23.

Lotteries losses increased from $642 million in 2018-19 to $764 million in 2022-23. Lottery sales were only slightly impacted by COVID-19-related closures.

Sport and race betting

In 2019, Victoria introduced a Point of Consumption Tax (POCT) for sport and race betting expenditure. This means that all sport and race betting losses by Victorian punters are recorded in Victoria for taxation purposes, regardless of whether they bet with a Victorian bookmaker or one licensed interstate.

Data published by the State Revenue Office and the VGCCC shows that sport and race betting losses increased from an estimated $1.65 billion in 2019–20 to $2.58 billion in 2022–23.