Australia‘s gamblers have burnished their reputation as the world’s most avid bettors by posting strong growth in per capita spending.

Studies have consistently placed Australia comfortably atop global per capita spending charts, but the country reportedly outdid itself in the past year, posting an increase in gambling spending that’s more than double the rate of growth in the country’s overall economy.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australians lost around A$24.1b (US $17.5b) on all forms of gambling in the 12 months ending September 30, 2015. That works out to around A$1000 per resident, be they man, woman or child.

The sum is 6.1% higher than the Bureau reported in the previous 12-month period and twice the average annual growth rate over the past decade. The overall Aussie economy grew a more modest 2.5% in the 12 months through September.