What Victorians think about gambling

In 2023, the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation (VRGF) surveyed 1,500 Victorians about their views on gambling. This included measuring current gambling behaviour, help seeking, attitudes towards gambling and understanding of gambling-related harm.

The online survey ran from 16 to 28 August 2023. Participants were randomly invited from an Online Research Unit(opens in a new window) database of around 55,000 Victorians.

Quotas were set for age, gender and location and weighted the results to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures to reflect the Victorian population.

This survey gives a snapshot of community attitudes and perceptions about gambling. The insights are informing the work needed to address gambling harm, complementing major population studies to gauge how gambling in Victoria is changing over time.

Gambling remained a key concern within the Victorian community in 2023. In particular:

  • 44% felt that the issue of gambling was very serious
  • 57% strongly agreed that they are concerned that sports betting is normalised in our society
  • 85% strongly agreed that gambling can negatively impact families
  • 73% strongly agreed that gambling can negatively impact communities
  • 53% strongly agreed that there are others who are better placed to help people experiencing gambling harm than they are.

Around one in 2 Victorians strongly agree that people who gamble more than once a week are at risk of harm.

One in 4 Victorians strongly agree that people who gamble at least once a month are at risk of developing a gambling problem.

Around one in 3 Victorians strongly agree that people who gamble more than $200 every three months are at risk of harm.

The results of the survey do not necessarily represent the attitudes or opinions of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission.

Updated