Adelaide Now has reported that statistics for the Australian gambling industry in 2005 show that Aussie bettors have thrown away over $4.5 billion in wagers to Australian bookies, hotels, betting pubs and the the megalithic Crown Casino. In fact, Crown Casino has become so popular in Australia, they were able to snatch up over $1 billion from gamblers putting stakes on the slot and video poker machines and table games.

$2.5 billion was lost to gambling machines, which include slots, poker, and fruit machines, while the remaining $2 billion was accounted for by sports bookies and lotteries. While these figures appear to be very high, even higher was the amount of gambling revenue that went to the treasury in the form of taxes and levies. $1.5 billion went to the Australian government, which despite their growing concern that problem gambling is on the rise, are nevertheless, pleased by the totals.

The statistics were generated from a report prepared by the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation, which is being compiled with hundreds of other reports, which Parliament is using to assess the Australian land-based gambling industry. Considering their notoriously strict regulations, the Victorian Gambling Commission was surprised to see how much money was wagered on slot and video poker machines in 2005. Having decreased the number of machines permitted in casinos, pubs and hotels, it was expected these numbers would drop. However, with more top-tier consolidation within the industry, it is clearly evident the Australian gambling scene is expanding and thriving.