What Country Gambles the Most?

When it comes to gambling, not all countries are equal with their love for it. While some countries have strict laws against gambling, others have embraced it as a way of life. So, which countries gamble the most? This is complex to answer in one line. However, we can look at available data to understand which countries might be considered the "top gambling" countries worldwide.

The United States

Gambling in physical casinos and online is fairly popular in the United States. Many people gamble regularly, whether buying lottery tickets, playing slot machines, or betting on sports. According to a study by the University of Las Vegas, the average American gambles around $400 per year. That's more than Americans' average spending on movies, music, and sports tickets. Just as portrayed in movies and TV shows set in places like Las Vegas and Atlantic City, gambling seems like something everyone does at some point in the United States.

Australia

Australia is one of the world's most gambling-addicted countries. An estimated 80% of Australians gamble regularly, and about 5% of the population can be classified as "problem gamblers." Gambling is so pervasive in Australia that it has been called a "national pastime." Australians spend more money per capita on gambling than any other country. The average adult gambles over $1,000 each year.

China

Gambling is quite prevalent in China, and there's a wide range of options available. The most popular form of gambling in China is probably Mahjong, a game played with tiles. Other popular games include card games like poker and blackjack, as well as casino games such as roulette and slots.

It's estimated that Chinese citizens gamble around $1 trillion yearly, making it the world's largest gambling market. 

Singapore

Singapore is a gambling hotspot despite being a small country. A recent study shows Singapore has the world's highest per capita gambling expenditure. Singaporeans gamble more than twice as much as Americans and six times as much as Australians.

Studies have found that Singaporeans spend an average of $1,239 on gambling yearly. This is equivalent to about 2% of the country's GDP. Casino gambling is a popular tourist activity in Singapore. Many visitors come to the city-state to try their luck at the casino tables. This pushes up the country's gambling index significantly. 

India

India is home to over 1.3 billion people, making it the second most populous country after China. It's also one of the fastest-growing economies, with an annual growth rate of 7.5% in 2016.

So, how do Indians gamble? Gambling is illegal in India except for horse racing and some state-run lotteries. However, people still find ways to gamble. A recent survey found that about 60% of Indians had gambled at least once, even though it's illegal.

The most popular form of gambling in India is cricket betting. There's a massive market for betting on matches. Other popular forms of gambling include card games like rummy and Teen Patti, as well as casino games like roulette and slots.

The Final Word

Different countries have different levels of gambling participation and spend different amounts of money on gambling activities. Gambling tourism seems to play a big part in some of these countries' gambling markets. It would make quite a trip to catch the action in some of the top gambling nations. So next time you're feeling lucky, remember that you're not alone; there are billions of others out there who are ready to take a gamble!