Australians are losing big on pokies. Picture: Marc McCormack

WERE supposed to be the lucky country, but a scary graph proves Australia is a nation of losers.

Gambling has become so prevalent in the Great Southern Land that weve taken out the dubious gong of the nation with the highest losses per capita, dwarfing the casino hub of Singapore.

An analysis by The Economist reveals that Australians lose more per person than any other country in 2016, an average $1292 ($US990) thats averaged out across the population, not just gamblers.

Australia, you are the biggest loser. Picture: Economist.comSource:Supplied

By comparison, the United States home to the glittering punters paradise of Las Vegas lost less than half that amount.

To the general public, Australia hardly leaps to mind as a gambling hotbed, yet industry insiders know it is far and away their most lucrative market, the Economist reported.

Its analysis is based on data from H2 Gambling Capital (H2G), a consultancy, which found that Australias betting losses per resident adult were about double the average in other Western countries.

And the reason? Pokie machines.

The losses from the ubiquitous gaming machines found in pubs and clubs across the nation are bigger than the total per capita gambling losses of nearly every other country represented largely because of Australias permissive bet limit rules, which allow punters to lose up to $1498 ($US1150) an hour.

dana.mccauley@news.com.au

Sometimes the wheel of fortune doesn't spin in your favor, especially when you're new to gambling. WSJ visits the Big Deal Casino in New York City to learn how to play roulette. Photo/Video: Carly Marsh/The Wall Street Journal

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Scary graph shows how Australians are the biggest losers - NEWS.com.au