A survey by IBIS World predicts that gambling in Australia is expected to grow by 3.3% in 2012, bringing in roughly A$22.5 billion in revenues with the average person spending A$1,265 this year.
The survey shows that poker is still the most popular game in the industry, accounting for 60.2% of the money that will be spent by punters this year. The fastest growing portion of the gambling industry is sports betting, which is growing at a faster pace than slots, the lottery, and horse racing.
Online gambling has boosted the industry, the report says, as it has given players the ability to play from their homes or through their mobile device.
One of the primary reasons for the industry's growth is cited as the marketing money spent by operators during the AFL and NRL seasons, as is the ability of being able to take a bet during a sporting event.
Speaking about the marketing aspect, Sally Gainsbury of the Centre for Gambling, Education, and Research at Southern Cross University said: "There's been so much marketing it has allowed online gambling companies to really target sporting events and sporting fans. So now on TV when you see someone score a try in the corner of a field, there's a Centrebet post that they are knocking over."