View of game and gambling table at a casino | AI-generated image
The gambling industries in the United States and Australia are both major revenue sources, but the similarities stop there. One is expanding fast, fuelled by state-level approvals and commercial appetite. The other is more tightly controlled, with laws in place that limit what operators can offer online. Both markets are worth billions, but the way they’re built, and what they allow, reveals two very different approaches.
Australia has had a long-standing relationship with legal gambling. Pokies, lotteries, and racing are deeply embedded, and the market continues to grow. Revenue is projected to exceed AUD 15 billion in 2025. On a per-person basis, Australia regularly ranks near the top of global gambling spend.
However, the online gaming environment is not as open as it seems. Sports betting is legal and strictly regulated, provided it’s offered by a licensed provider. Online casino games are banned. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 prohibits local platforms from offering digital pokies or online table games to Australians. However, several Australians tend to flock to international regulated and licensed online sites, such as Coin Poker Australia for example. These online gambling platforms offer users the full casino suite, including pokies, variations of diffferent table games like blackjack, and live dealer gaming options like poker. The appeal lies in access to full-featured casino environments, complete with real-time interaction, crypto-based payments, and game types that aren’t available under Australian law.
That doesn’t mean the industry is not evolving. In 2023, Australia launched BetStop, a national self-exclusion register covering all licensed online betting platforms. Unlike in the US, this registry applies countrywide and is mandatory for all providers. It’s one of several recent steps aimed at tightening controls without banning legal betting entirely.
Australian players also enjoy a different tax system. Winnings are not taxed. Operators, on the other hand, face varying tax obligations depending on where they’re licensed. The Northern Territory, a key base for online bookmakers, doubled its annual tax cap in 2025. Collections are now expected to exceed AUD 32 million, and other states may follow suit.
In the US, commercial gambling generated nearly USD 72 billion in 2024. That figure excludes tribal operations and offshore platforms. Sports betting and online casino games are driving much of the growth, though access depends entirely on where you live. As of 2025, only a handful of states, like New Jersey and Pennsylvania have fully legalised online casino games, including slots and table games. Most of the country still bans them outright. Sports betting, on the other hand, has become far more widespread. Legal bets totalled over USD 150 billion last year, and that number is expected to keep climbing.
Mobile betting has changed how Americans gamble. There’s no longer a need to walk into a casino or racetrack. Wagers are placed from anywhere, with little friction. That access has made sports betting the highest-earning segment in several states. However, the rules around it aren’t consistent. New York taxes gross gambling revenue from sports betting at 51 per cent. Nevada’s rate is closer to 6.75. This discrepancy means operators must adapt state by state, from licensing and tax compliance to how they advertise. What’s legal in New Jersey may be banned in Texas, and nothing in federal law brings it all together.
Despite this, the market continues to grow, benefiting state economies. Operators use real-time data to fine-tune promotions and odds. Player activity is monitored closely. As legal options expand, some of the offshore and unregulated operators that previously filled demand have started to disappear, though not completely.
The real split between the US and Australia isn’t just about structure or size. It comes down to how each country treats gambling as a regulated activity. In the US, expansion is piecemeal and driven by commercial goals. In Australia, the system is more cautious and centralised. Both countries see gambling as a source of revenue. The difference is how far they’re willing to let it go.