The Department of Internal Affairs

Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs

Building a safe, prosperous and respected nation



 

Pokie spend down


28 January 2009

Gaming machine expenditure in pubs and clubs was down in the final quarter of 2008, according to figures released today by the Department of Internal Affairs. Spending dropped just under 1 per cent from $232.3m at 30 September to $230.7m at 31 December and was 6 per cent lower on the same three-month period in 2007.

Expenditure in the year to 31 December 2008 was $912.5 million compared with $927.1 million in the 12 months to 30 September 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 – Sept to Dec 2008


Society Type

Total GMP Quarter

% of Total

Non-Club

$199,113,208.93

86.3%

Sports Clubs

$4,815,330.13

2.1%

Chartered Clubs

$17,677,862.12

7.7%

RSAs

$9,059,348.04

3.9%

Total Club

$31,552,540.29

13.7%

Total All

$230,665,749.22

100.0%


Non-casino GM spending in quarter ended

31 December 2008

$230.7m

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 September 08 quarter, but remained at around 20,000 since the introduction of EMS. There were also fewer licensed societies and venues compared with the September quarter.


Licensed gambling operations in pubs and clubs
Date
Licence holders
Venues
Gaming machines
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
31 Dec 2006
476
1666
20,518
30 Sept 2006
481
1676
20,571
30 June 2006
496
1701
20,739
31 March 2006
513
1721
21,026
31 Dec 2005
526
1747
21,343
30 Sept 2005
535
1770
21,684
30 June 2005
553
1801
21,846
31 March 2005
568
1838
22,159
31 Dec 2004
584
1850
22,231
31 Dec 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.

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