Pokie spend drops 10 per cent

Media Release 22 April 2009

Pokie spend drops 10 per cent

Gaming machine expenditure in pubs and clubs in the first three months of this year was almost 10 per cent lower than the previous quarter, according to figures released today by the Department of Internal Affairs. Spending dropped from $230.7m at 31 December 2008 to $208.7m at 31 March 2009. Twelve months ago the first quarter spend of 2008 showed a similar drop of 11 per cent but rose in the following two quarters.

Expenditure in the year to 31 March 2009 at $902.7 million was 4.5 per cent lower than the $945 million recorded for the year to 31 March 2008.

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

Non-casino GM spending by Society Type –January to March 2009
Society Type Total GMP Quarter % of Total
Non-Club $180,417,054.30 86.5%
Sports Clubs $4,230,252.72 2.0%
Chartered Clubs $15,872,629.52 7.6%
RSAs $8,149,284.81 3.9%
Total Club $28,252,167.05 13.5%
Total All $208,669,221.35 100.0%

Non-casino GM spending in quarter ended
31 March 2009 $208.7 m
31 December 2008 $230.7 m
30 September 2008 $232.3 m
30 June 2008 $231 m
31 March 2008 $218.5 m
31 December 2007 $245.3 m
30 September 2007 $243.5 m
30 June 2007 $237.7 m

Internal Affairs Director of Gambling Compliance, Mike Hill said the number of gaming machines, was slightly down on the December 08 quarter, but has remained at around 20,000 since the introduction of EMS. There were also fewer licensed societies and venues compared with the December quarter.

Licensed gambling operations in pubs and clubs

Date Licence holders Venues Gaming machines
31 March 2009 394 1527 19,739
31 Dec 2008 399 1537 19,879
30 Sept 2008 405 1551 20,025
30 June 2008 415 1552 19,856
31 March 2008 421 1569 20,018
31 Dec 2007 428 1585 20,182
30 Sept 2007 435 1593 20,163
30 June 2007 439 1598 20,120
31 March 2007 444 1607 20,302

ends

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