Proceeds from pub and club gaming machines in the first three months of this year were $4.7 million or 2.3 per cent more than for the same period last year but, in line with annual trends, less than at the end of 2017, according to figures from the Department of Internal Affairs. Spending totalled $212 million for the quarter ending 31 March 2018, compared with $207.3 million for quarter ending 31 March 2017.

Between the fourth quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018 spending dropped $16.7 million, from $228.8 million at the end of December to $212 million at 31 March 2018, licence holders fell from 257 to 253, venues declined from 1,156 to 1,146 and the number of gaming machines decreased from 15,632 to 15,490.

In the 12 months ended 31 March 2018 gaming machine proceeds rose 2.5 per cent from $866.1 million to $888.1 million.

Over the last 12 months the number of venues fell by 50 to 1146, there were also 523 fewer gaming machines at 15,490 and 26 fewer licence holders at 253.

Non-casino GM spending by Society Type January-March 2018

The spending is captured through the electronic monitoring of non-casino gaming machines (EMS), which became fully operational in March 2007, enabling the Department to track and monitor operations, ensure the integrity of games and the accurate accounting of money.

A regional breakdown of expenditure is available from the Department’s Gaming Statistics web page. The figures are based on territorial authority boundaries, including Auckland City. A fuller range of Gambling Statistics are available from links on this web page: https://www.dia.govt.nz/Resource-material-Information-We-Provide-Gaming-Statistics

Footnote: We don’t adjust these quarterly stats for inflation or population, only the annual gambling expenditure statistics covering the four main forms of gambling – casinos, racing, lotteries and class 4.

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