There are billions of gamblers worldwide, on online websites or apps and in land-based casinos. The global gambling industry is worth billions of pounds, with gamblers seeking entertainment in poker rooms, bingo halls, slot floors, cruise ship casinos, and even airports in Las Vegas – But which countries have the most casinos?
Whether you are looking for the next vacation spot and want to play at the best casinos or are just curious, here are the countries with the most casinos.
Highlights:
- Over 4.2 billion people gamble at least once annually.
- 1.6 billion people are prolific gamblers.
- The global gambling market is worth over £200 billion.
- Australia has the highest gambling activity amongst adults, with 73% of its adult population gambling.
- There are over 5000 casinos all over the world.
- Over 2500 casinos are strictly online. It can be found on websites and apps.
United States
The United States has one of the biggest gambling markets in the world, with 52 million people gambling at least 4 times each year. The gross revenue in the US gambling sector is estimated to be about £66.65 billion annually, almost 35% of the entire market.
Online gambling revenue in the US is projected to reach up to $24.98 billion in 2024. Furthermore, a study on internet casino players revealed that this number is bound to grow by at least 9.77% each year.
Sports betting in the US earns about $14.30 billion each year. People in the United States love gambling on real-time events due to major sports like the NBA, the NFL, and the World Series Baseball Championships.
Statistics estimate that there are 1,000+ land-based casinos in 44 states and 450 legal online casinos in the US.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom’s gambling market revenue is about £18 billion, and 29 million people in Britain gamble regularly.
The United Kingdom is the holy grail for online casino gamblers. The Gaming Act of 1968 legalised gambling in the country, and since then, we have witnessed a dynamic change in the gambling landscape. At the same time, there are 150+ land-based casinos and about 600 online casinos.
There are 175+ licensed online sportsbooks in the United Kingdom. Bookmaking accounts for around £1.7 billion of the country’s annual casino revenue.
Generally, the UK Gambling Commission has already issued over 3200 licenses to over 2500 online gambling companies. There are 1,405 adult gaming centres, 6,661 betting shops, 582 bingo halls and 175 casinos.
Furthermore, due to the stringent regulation imposed by the UK Gambling Commission, only 0.5% of the gambling population has gambling-related issues. The government provides support through organisations and incentives like GamStop, BeGambleAware, and National Gambling Treatment Services. Recently, casinos under the Betting & Gaming Council contributed over £100 million to promoting education and preventing gambling vices.
China
Ironically, gambling is generally prohibited in China except for Macau, which is popularly known as the ‘Gambling Capital of the World.’ Macau is a tropical paradise and a major tourist attraction for gamblers worldwide. It is located in the South China Sea, off the Guadong Penisula.
The 50 casinos in and around Macau are why China has made it to our list of ‘Countries with the biggest number of Casinos.’ Over 30 million people visit Macau annually, with 75% visiting at least 5 casinos. The average gambling revenue is £22.8 billion, making it one of the busiest gambling locations in the world.
Macau would be a fantastic choice if you are a gambling fan looking for the next vacation destination. The casinos are elegant, with over 8,900 slots, 3,500 table games, and video gaming machines.
The top local casinos in Macau include Venetian Macau, The Galaxy, Sands Macau, Grand Lisboa, MGM Macau, and Wynn Palace.
Australia
The total revenue in the Australian online gambling market is estimated to be about AU$250 billion. Of this value, online gambling accounts for AU$4.3 billion. As more Aussies turn to online casinos, the industry is projected to grow by 2.10% annually.
Gambling in Australia is widespread across the island’s different territories. There are 20 land-based casinos in this island continent, distributed across 8 provinces. You will find casinos in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne.
Major surveys revealed that 38% of all gamblers in Australia play at an online casino twice weekly and visit a land-based casino at least thrice each month, mainly on the weekends. While Aussies can play at online casinos, Australian-based online gambling companies are not allowed to operate.
Some of the most notable casinos in Australia include Country Club Tasmania, The Star Sydney, Wrest Point Hotel Casino and Jupiters Hotel and Casino.
Conclusion
Gambling is a source of entertainment and leisure for billions of people globally. Additionally, the global gambling and betting industry directly employs millions of people.
Regulatory, historical, and cultural differences influence how each country gambles, but gambling will become global in a few years. Moreover, players from all over the world have already won over £5 billion in jackpots!
References
The above data and statistics have been collected and confirmed by:
- Forbes: Sports Betting Statistics in America
- American Gaming Association
- UK Government Betting and Gaming Statistics Commentary
- UK Gambling Commission Statistics on Gambling Participation
- Bloomberg: Macau Gaming Revenue Report
- S&P Global: Macau Gaming Outlook
- Australian Gambling Statistics
- Gambling in Australia Statistics & Facts
