Victorian Gambling Expenditure

April 20, 2023 | Government

Poker Machines, Casino and Lotteries Gambling

MELBOURNE, Vic., Australia (April 18, 2023) — Every year the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) publishes expenditure data on legal gambling products in Victoria, including poker machines, casino games and lotteries.

The data shows that poker machine losses increased from $2.695 billion in 2017–18 to $2.699 billion in 2018-19. Poker machines 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.

Casino losses (table games and poker machines) decreased from $1.774 billion in 2017–18 to $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.

Lotteries losses increased from $518 million in 2017-18 to $788 million in 2021-22.

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 shows that estimated sport and race betting losses increased from $1.65 billion in 2019–20 to $2.58 billion in 2021–22.