27 April 2011

Gaming machine expenditure in the country’s 1400 pubs and clubs has staged a small recovery in the first three months of 2011 compared with the same time last year. This is the first time since 2008 that the first quarter spend ($205.1 million) has been up on the previous year’s first quarter ($199.9 million), according to figures released by the Department of Internal Affairs.

Spending usually drops over the summer months and this year was no exception with the take 5 per cent down – from $215.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 to $205.1 million at 31 March 2011.

Nationwide there were fewer operators, venues and gaming machines compared with a year earlier – 365 operators (374 at 31 March 2010), 1430 venues (1470) and 18,484 gaming machines (19,115).

The Canterbury earthquake on 22 February affected about a quarter of Christchurch’s pub gaming machine venues. Expenditure in the city for the first three months of 2011 was $19 million – $1.2 million less than for the last quarter of 2010 but $600,000 more than a year earlier.

Internal Affairs’ Acting General Manager for Regulatory and Compliance Operations, Mike Hill, said gambling increased significantly in many Christchurch venues not affected by the earthquake. It reflects similar trends across the hospitality industry in Christchurch.

“There are likely to be many reasons for this including the closure of the Christchurch Casino. Some patrons may be particularly vulnerable in the post-earthquake environment and the Department asks gaming machine societies to remind venues of their host responsibility obligations and to be proactive over any changes in gambling behaviour.”

Gaming machine spending in pubs and clubs is monitored electronically, enabling the Department to track and monitor non-casino operations, ensure the integrity of games and the accurate accounting of money. The electronic monitoring system (EMS) became fully operational in March 2007.

ENDS