The Department of Internal Affairs

Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs

Building a safe, prosperous and respected nation



 

Pokie spend tracking down


23 October 2008

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 September 2008
405
1551
20,025
30 June 2008
415
1552
19,856
31 March 2008
421
1569
20,018
31 December 2007
428
1585
20,182
30 September 2007
435
1593
20,163
30 June 2007
439
1598
20,120
31 March 2007
444
1607
20,302
31 December 2006
476
1666
20,518
30 September 2006
481
1676
20,571
30 June 2006
496
1701
20,739
31 March 2006
513
1721
21,026
31 December 2005
526
1747
21,343
30 September 2005
535
1770
21,684
30 June 2005
553
1801
21,846
31 March 2005
568
1838
22,159
31 December 2004
584
1850
22,231
31 December 2003
672
2031
22,734
30 June 20031
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 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

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

Media Contact:
Trevor Henry, communications adviser, Department of Internal Affairs
Ph 04 495 7211; cell 0275 843 679