Gambling statistics for 2003/2004 year
- a ban on new casinos and on the expansion of gambling activities in existing casinos
- reductions in the numbers of non-casino gaming machines allowed in many pubs and clubs
- community involvement in decisions about the provision of gambling
- more in-depth suitability checking of individuals, and tougher auditing and reporting requirements, to ensure that money intended for the community actually gets to the community.
9/12/2004
The gambling statistics for the 2003/2004 year show continued growth in the amount gamblers spend (gambling losses).
Releasing the figures today, the Department of Internal Affairs’ Gaming, Racing and Censorship Policy Manager, John Markland, said that gamblers’ losses increased by $168 million to a total of $2.039 billion.
Overall spending / losses in 2003/04 were made up of:
| Gambling product | Spending / Losses | Increase from 2002/03 |
| Racing and sports betting | $239m | 2.1% |
| Lotteries Commission products | $282m | 18% |
| Gaming machines in pubs and clubs | $1.035b | 10% |
| Casinos | $484m | 6% |
| Total spending / losses | $2.039b | 9% |
The Gambling Act was passed in September last year with lead-in periods for most of its provisions. The new Act was not fully in force until July 1 this year.
“The effects of the new Act will not be fully reflected in the statistics until the end of the 2004/2005 year”, Mr Markland said. “However, the growth in spending on gaming machines seems to be slowing.”
Mr Markland said that key objectives of the new Gambling Act are to control the growth of gambling, prevent and limit the harm that can be caused by gambling, limit opportunities for crime and dishonesty, and ensure that money from gambling benefits the community (section 3).
The Act introduces much stricter controls including:
Further details are available in the table Gambling Expenditure Statistics 1980-2004 that accompanies this media release.
Please note: “Expenditure on gambling”, “gamblers’ losses”, “spending on gambling” and “gambling operators’ gross profits” are synonymous. They are different phrases to describe the total amount gambled minus the amount paid out in prizes.
Media contact:
John Markland
Manager Gaming, Racing and Censorship Policy Phone 04 495 9354, Cellular 0274 406 624
Phone 04 495 9350
Communications Advisor
Vincent Cholewa Phone 04 495 9350, Cellular 027 272 427
