What public opinion says about changing the age of gambling
Introduction
The feasibility of raising the minimum age for participation in online gambling (now 18 years old) is actively discussed in Australia. Although there are few direct polls devoted to this particular topic, the available data from related studies and traditional opinion polls make it possible to highlight the main moods in society.
1. Support for tougher norms among parents and experts
High anxiety due to teenage bets. According to a study by McAllister (2014), 73.5% of survey participants advocated tighter control and restriction of gambling products, including age limits.
Recommendations of health care organizations. Mental Health Australia and Youth Affairs Council in 2025 announced the need to raise the age to 21, based on evidence that the brain is finally forming by the mid-twenties.
2. Outlined needs for tougher rules among regulars
Desire to "make gambling less accessible." In the AIFS (2022) study, 9.1% of respondents who regularly gamble explicitly indicated the need to "make gambling less accessible" to vulnerable groups, and 6.9% called for "increased regulation" in general.
Relation to age barriers. Although the polls dealt mainly with habits and advertising, among those wishing to restrict access, there are naturally also supporters of raising the minimum age threshold to 21 years.
3. Opponents of the change and their arguments
Industry representatives and young people 18-20 years old mainly oppose raising the threshold, citing:
4. The level of awareness and "apathy" of part of society
Low interest. Roy Morgan's opinion polls on political and social topics rarely include the question of gambling age - suggesting that for many Australians it is not a priority compared to the economy and health care.
Youth passivity. Among 18-24-year-olds, support for age change is markedly below the national average, compounded by the active involvement of this group in online gambling.
5. Regional differences and demographics
States with more conservative sentiments. In Victoria and Queensland, where NGOs and media campaigns against teenage gambling are active, the proportion of hardliners is traditionally 5-10% higher compared to NSW and WA.
Role of education and income. Higher education and higher income correlate with a greater tendency to support reforms: among university graduates and people with an income above average, the share of "for" can reach 60%.
6. Final moods and prospects
1. General "shifted" support for reforms. With a direct survey, a positive attitude towards tightening the age threshold rather prevails, but with caution due to fears of a market shadow.
2. Key drivers of change in opinion: public campaigns on the harms of early engagement, data on the rise of child dependence, and international experience (US, Canada).
3. Need for targeted surveys. To make a balanced decision to raise the age to 21, it is advisable for the government to initiate a national survey involving the Central Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and independent sociological centers.
Conclusion:
The feasibility of raising the minimum age for participation in online gambling (now 18 years old) is actively discussed in Australia. Although there are few direct polls devoted to this particular topic, the available data from related studies and traditional opinion polls make it possible to highlight the main moods in society.
1. Support for tougher norms among parents and experts
High anxiety due to teenage bets. According to a study by McAllister (2014), 73.5% of survey participants advocated tighter control and restriction of gambling products, including age limits.
Recommendations of health care organizations. Mental Health Australia and Youth Affairs Council in 2025 announced the need to raise the age to 21, based on evidence that the brain is finally forming by the mid-twenties.
2. Outlined needs for tougher rules among regulars
Desire to "make gambling less accessible." In the AIFS (2022) study, 9.1% of respondents who regularly gamble explicitly indicated the need to "make gambling less accessible" to vulnerable groups, and 6.9% called for "increased regulation" in general.
Relation to age barriers. Although the polls dealt mainly with habits and advertising, among those wishing to restrict access, there are naturally also supporters of raising the minimum age threshold to 21 years.
3. Opponents of the change and their arguments
Industry representatives and young people 18-20 years old mainly oppose raising the threshold, citing:
- 1. The right to adulthood: 18 years is the generally accepted age of onset of rights and obligations (voting, military service).
- 2. Risk of growth of the illegal segment: too rigid framework can push vulnerable players to offshore sites.
- Sports league lobbying. As a Reuters investigation shows, 75% of Australians support a ban on online betting adverts, yet the NRL and AFL have lobbied tightly to maintain current rules by giving politicians privileges and tickets to games.
4. The level of awareness and "apathy" of part of society
Low interest. Roy Morgan's opinion polls on political and social topics rarely include the question of gambling age - suggesting that for many Australians it is not a priority compared to the economy and health care.
Youth passivity. Among 18-24-year-olds, support for age change is markedly below the national average, compounded by the active involvement of this group in online gambling.
5. Regional differences and demographics
States with more conservative sentiments. In Victoria and Queensland, where NGOs and media campaigns against teenage gambling are active, the proportion of hardliners is traditionally 5-10% higher compared to NSW and WA.
Role of education and income. Higher education and higher income correlate with a greater tendency to support reforms: among university graduates and people with an income above average, the share of "for" can reach 60%.
6. Final moods and prospects
1. General "shifted" support for reforms. With a direct survey, a positive attitude towards tightening the age threshold rather prevails, but with caution due to fears of a market shadow.
2. Key drivers of change in opinion: public campaigns on the harms of early engagement, data on the rise of child dependence, and international experience (US, Canada).
3. Need for targeted surveys. To make a balanced decision to raise the age to 21, it is advisable for the government to initiate a national survey involving the Central Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and independent sociological centers.
Conclusion:
- In Australian society, moderate support for the idea of raising the minimum age for online gambling prevails: parents, doctors and some regular players are in favor of stricter restrictions, while young people 18-20 years old and the industry are inclined to maintain the status quo. Targeted surveys and accounting for regional and demographic differences are needed to make a final decision.
