Try to imagine a Saturday night in Sydney, and while some folks are hitting the beach, millions of Australians are glued to their screens – but they’re not just watching Netflix, though.
Some are making empires in Minecraft, others are dropping into Fortnite’s latest season, and a surprising number are trying their luck at online pokies – the story of a country that loves gaming more than almost anywhere else on Earth.
Games That Are Taking Over Australian Screens Right Now
First, let’s start with the most popular options – EA Sports FC 25 (yeah, the FIFA replacement) sits at the top of the charts. Thousands of Aussies log on every night, and the new FC IQ tactical system has players obsessing over formations like never before. The game pulls massive numbers all the time – and we’re talking concurrent players in the tens of thousands during peak Australian hours.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launched with 16 multiplayer maps and brought back round-based zombies, which fans had been seeking for years. The 90s spy thriller setting clicked with players, and the omnimovement system made a new approach to firefights. Australian servers stay packed, and especially on weekends.
But what really surprises many is that Minecraft still takes the lead – this 14-year-old game refuses to die. Australian servers host equally some casual builders and hardcore survival players. The local community runs strong – cities such as Bathurst have the highest Fortnite players per capita in the country, while Townsville leads in FPS games.
The stats back this up – action and action-adventure games top the preference charts. The average Australian gamer is 32 years old now, and 48% are women. Grand Theft Auto V, a game from 2013, still sells consistently, while Mario Kart 8 from 2014 is still moving units.
About 70% of Aussies choose consoles over mobile gaming, since people want proper controllers and big screens. But even though the local gaming industry generated around $120 million in revenue, 80% of it is coming from international sales.
Australia’s Gambling Reality Check
Here’s a sobering fact: around six in ten Australian adults take part in some form of gambling. What really stands out, though, is the dominance of pokies. Despite making up only 0.3% of the world’s population, Australia hosts about three-quarters of all poker machines located in pubs and clubs worldwide. To put that into perspective, in 2020–21 alone players spent nearly $12 billion on these machines, found in pubs, clubs, and venues almost everywhere you turn.
The digital side of gambling has surged as well. Online betting turnover reached $75 billion, marking a 165% jump in just one year. And with 86% of those wagers now placed via smartphones, people are betting while watching TV, on lunch breaks, or practically anytime they like.
The online casino market specifically hit $462 million in 2024, and experts predict it’ll surpass $1.000 billion by 2030, which beats most tech sector growth rates. The variety expanded massively as well. Progressive jackpots have millions in prizes. Live dealer games stream real casino action to your phone. With new online casino options popping up every week, players face an endless stream of choices – from traditional blackjack to crash games and virtual sports.
Sports betting remains one of the most popular options as well. Australians bet on everything: AFL, NRL, horse racing, tennis, cricket, and even esports now. Bet365, Sportsbet, Ladbrokes – all these names became household brands.
Where Gaming and Gambling Cross Roads
The boundaries are disappearing more each year. Now, Esports betting took off – people bet on CS:GO tournaments and League of Legends championships just like on any other sports. Well, Fantasy sports leagues for AFL and NRL mix gaming mechanics with real money stakes.
Video games brought gambling-like features through loot boxes and game purchases. Even though such mechanics face scrutiny from regulators, you can still see them everywhere. Also, social casino games, free apps that simulate gambling, bridge both spheres – and young Australians see them as just another game category.
Other Big Games Leading the Game Sector
Baldur’s Gate 3 still pulls some massive numbers, and Aussies seem to love the co-op mode – nothing beats playing D&D with your mates online. The game keeps people coming back months after they finish the main story.
Palworld shouldn’t work, but it does. This “Pokemon with guns” game has Australian servers packed daily. The weird combo of cute creatures and survival mechanics hits different, while players stick around for every update.
Racing fans split between Gran Turismo 7 and Forza Horizon 5 – GT7 gets the sim racers who want real physics, while Forza wins over people who just want to tear through the outback at 300km/h. But both games have pretty strong communities in Australia.
Mobile gaming pulls its weight as well – Genshin Impact makes billions and Aussies contribute plenty. But since PUBG Mobile works for quick matches during lunch, Roblox owns the under-18 crowd completely – millions of Australian kids play it each day.
The Verdict
The video game industry won’t slow down, and now, cloud gaming and better VR promise even more fun in the future years. Australian developers keep getting more recognized, while the market expands at an impressive speed.
Mobile gaming might take over, though. Operators focus on faster apps, quicker sign-ups, and payment options (adding crypto) – and the growth seems unstoppable.
