Pokie spend tracking down

Gaming machine expenditure in pubs and clubs has declined over 12 months, according to figures released today by the Department of Internal Affairs. Total annual expenditure for the year to 30 September 2008 was $927.1 million compared with $938.3 million in the year to 30 June 2008.

In the September quarter spending was almost five per cent down on the same period last year but up marginally on the June 2008 quarter.
Spending rose from $231 million at 30 June 2008 to $232.3 million at 30 September 2008 compared with $237.7 million for June 2007 and $243.5 million for September 2007.

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.

Pubs accounted for 86 per cent of the September 08 quarter expenditure at $200 million, with chartered clubs registering 7.8 per cent ($18 million), RSAs four per cent ($9.3 million) and sports clubs ($4.9 million) the remainder.

Internal Affairs Director of Gambling Compliance, Mike Hill said the number of gaming machines, was slightly up on the June 08 quarter, but have remained at around 20,000 since the introduction of EMS.
“There is always some fluctuation in venues and gaming machines when these statistics are recorded,” Mike Hill said. “They are a snapshot of the sector as at September 30. During transfers machines are unlicensed, not operating and therefore not counted, which would have accounted for the lower number at 30 June.”

Licensed gambling operations in pubs and clubs

Date Licence holders Venues Gaming machines
30 Sept 2008 405 1551 20,025
30 June 2008 415 1552 19,856
31 Mar 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 Mar 2007 444 1607 20,302
31 Dec 2006 476 1666 20,518
30 Sep 2006 481 1676 20,571
30 June 2006 496 1701 20,739
31 Mar 2006 513 1721 21,026
31 Dec 2005 526 1747 21,343
30 Sep 2005 535 1770 21,684
30 June 2005 553 1801 21,846
31 Mar 2005 568 1838 22,159
31 Dec 2004 584 1850 22,231
31 Dec 2003 672 2031 22,734
30 June 2003(1) 699 2122 25,221
(1) Machine numbers peaked in the quarter before the Gambling Act was passed.

GM spending by Society Type – June to September 2008
Society Type Total GMP Quarter % of Total
Non-Club $200,054,016.19 86.1%
Sports Clubs $4,906,767.85 2.1%
Chartered Clubs $18,036,625.39 7.8%
RSAs $9,333,985.96 4.0%
Total Club $32,277,379.20 13.9%
Total All $232,331,395.39 100.0%

Non-casino GM spending in quarter ended
30 Sept 2008 $232.3 m
30 June 2008 $231 m
31 Mar 2008 $218.5 m
31 Dec 2007 $245.3 m
30 Sept 2007 $243.5 m
30 June 2007 $237.7 m

Further information, including numbers of venues, machines and expenditure by territorial authority and changes in the quarter, is available from the Department’s Gaming Statistics web page at: www.dia.govt.nz