How 2021 Went For The Australian Casino Industry: A Comprehensive Flashback
Australia has one of the most robust gambling sectors in the world. More than half of Australia's population gambles every year. Last year was a year of uncertainty and turbulence for the global economy. Some people lost their jobs and had to reduce their gambling expenditure. Others increased their spending on online casinos.
Gambling restrictions were introduced in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 epidemic. Almost all land-based gaming facilities have been closed. Certain games, such as poker, keno, and scratch tickets, were prohibited more often than others. Online gambling has increased during the crisis.
The Australian online casinos gained 37% more visitors in the last year. The average weekly gambling expenditure by Australians of legal age has climbed from 100 to 384.40 per week ended September 19, 2021.
Aristocrat Leisure Limited announced a $3.7 billion deal to purchase Playtech PLC. PlayTech Plc is the world's leading software developer for the gaming industry. Aristocrat is currently the industry leader in gambling hardware and Play Tech will make it the undisputed market leader for both.
Gambling is a serious public policy issue in Australia. According to the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office, Australians lost nearly $25 billion in 2018–19 on legal forms of gambling. Australia and Ireland have the highest gambling losses on a global scale.
In 2021, the Australian casino industry had some significant events. If the land-based competitions fully reopen with the decline in COVID infection rate, 2022 is expected to be a far better year for the industry.