Australia’s online gambling sector no longer feels like a niche corner of the internet; it’s woven into everyday life. According to Segpay’s statistics, the market has already reached $5.69 billion and is projected to hit $12.16 billion by 2034.
Another study by Tacoma News Tribune claims that Australia holds the world’s top spot for gambling activity, with 78% of its adult population participating in the practice since 2022.
And the shift isn’t slowing. Gambling apps have evolved into social tools, enabling friends to compare odds and share bets in real-time. At the same time, operators are aligning with popular trends to ensure relevance. If you’re interested in learning about the factors driving this industry’s growth, then this article is for you.
The rise of mobile-friendly designs
Mobile-friendly designs are beneficial due to the increased level of convenience they provide. For instance, with a mobile-friendly casino game that pays real money, players can access gambling experiences even on the go. This ensures more players can engage with their favourite games whenever and wherever they want, removing the barriers once imposed by physical venues or desktop-only platforms.
And mark you: Deloitte recently published a report claiming that more than 90% of Australians owned a smartphone. Like owners across other parts of the world, most of these individuals may not tolerate poorly optimised mobile sites. In fact, Hostinger says more than half of users will not endorse a website that misbehaves on mobile.
Conversely, Webstacks says mobile-friendly designs can increase the likelihood of purchases by up to 67%. This is a significant reason why operators targeting the Australian market are adopting the responsive design approach.
Responsive design creates a seamless user experience across all devices by ensuring platforms automatically adjust to fit different screen sizes. As a result, players can engage with their favourite titles without worrying about zooming or pinching on small-screen devices.
Such experiences can also encourage extended gameplay and player loyalty. And if players become loyal, they will likely influence their friends, creating a ripple effect that brings even more users into the fold. In a market as mobile-driven as Australia’s, this kind of organic growth becomes a powerful engine, helping digital gambling platforms expand their reach well beyond traditional audiences.
A growing push for safer play
Did you know that, according to Exploding Topics, about 60% of businesses have experienced a ransomware attack this year (2025) alone? This cyberattack momentum is no different in Australia. Data from CFOtech Australia shows that 88% of businesses have recently encountered at least one online data breach. As these figures continue to increase, consumers are also becoming increasingly security-conscious.
This is why many will often survey a platform’s security before transacting with it. If they suspect the platform to be insecure, they may as well turn to competitors, who they believe are committed to protecting their data. To appeal to these security-conscious consumers, leading operators invest heavily in advanced encryption and authentication protocols.
Take two-factor authentication (2FA), for instance. According to Microsoft, this simple yet powerful approach can block up to 99.9% of automated attacks. It works by requiring two forms of identification before granting access to a user’s account. Encryption technologies like SSL are also beneficial because they safeguard sensitive information by keeping it private.
Without an SSL-secured website, you may risk losing up to 85% of users, who, according to Sci-Tech Today, feel more secure with the little padlock icon in their browser. Given this industry’s growing competitiveness, you certainly do not want to incur such a loss. This is why Australian operators prioritise robust cybersecurity and transparent data protection as a foundation for sustained growth.
Placing a higher priority on superior user experience
Well, you can agree that online platforms have helped advance the overall gambling industry – not just in Australia. But today’s gamblers want more than just the convenience of these platforms. If you only allow players to gamble from anywhere but do not provide a seamless gambling experience, you may lose them to competitors who are just a few taps away.
Australian operators now know this all too well, so they’re doubling down on creating engaging experiences, such as frictionless payments. Allowing players to deposit and withdraw funds seamlessly demonstrates your commitment to user satisfaction and trust, which can lead to higher retention and ultimately better business performance.
Beyond seamlessness, you want to ensure transactions are fast. After all, no one wants to wait ages for their funds to be processed. That’s why providing instant payment methods can help increase both conversion and retention rates.
Gambling companies here are also opening their doors to new trends, such as personalisation. By monitoring gamblers’ habits, play styles and preferences, these operators can recommend games that match unique player preferences.
For instance, if you’re a poker fan but tend to play shorter sessions, the platform might suggest quick-play poker tables or time-limited tournaments designed to suit your schedule. Interestingly, WiserNotify says such personalised experiences can increase retention rates by up to 44%.
In other words, a big part of why online gambling is so irresistible to Australians is that operators have become more customer-focused. Today, the focus has shifted from just providing convenient access to games to offering experiences that encourage return visits. And if this trend continues, the industry will continue to grow, even surpassing projections by institutions like Segpay.
