Media release

20 October 2016

Pokie takings continue to rise

Spending on pub and club pokies has risen again despite a continuing decline in the number of gaming machines, according to figures from the Department of Internal Affairs.

Proceeds in the third quarter of this year were $5.4 million or 2.5 per cent more than for the same period last year. Spending in the three months to 30 September 2016 was $218.9 million compared with $213.5 million for the July-September quarter 2015; it was also $2.8 million or 1.3 per cent more than the $216.1 million spent in the second three months (April-June) of this year.

For the year to 30 September 2016 expenditure totalled $848.9 million – $25.1 million or 3 per cent more than the $823.8 million for the 12 months ended 30 September 2015.

There were fewer licence holders, gambling venues and gaming machines at 30 September 2016, compared with 12 months earlier. Over the year licence holders fell 8 per cent from 309 to 284, venues declined 3 per cent from 1255 to 1214, and gaming machines dropped 1 per cent from 16,440 to 16,221.

Non-casino GM spending by Society Type – July-Sept 2016

The spending is captured through the electronic monitoring of non-casino gaming machines (EMS), which became fully operational in March 2007, enabling the Department to track and monitor operations, ensure the integrity of games and the accurate accounting of money.
A summary of expenditure by territorial authority areas, including Auckland city, and changes in the quarter, is available on the Department’s web site.

(Background statistics)

Non-casino GM spending in quarter ended

Licensed gambling operations in pubs and clubs

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