According to the latest figures from New Zealand’s Internal Affairs Department, there is a continuing decline in the number of gambling operators, venues and gaming machines as well as in betting. The Gambling Act 2003 is continuing to achieve one of its purposes – to control the growth of gambling in the country.

After peaking at 25,221 gaming machines in the quarter before the Gambling Act was passed, numbers have since shown a 5% decline to 21,343 in the last quarter to 31 December 2005. There are nearly 6% fewer venues and 10% fewer operators. These statistics are for pubs and clubs and the Government is seeking further consolidation in the sector, suggesting that fewer operators would cut overall costs and so have little impact on the amount of money going to the community in charitable trusts.

Despite the decline in numbers, record amounts of money were paid out for community services in 2003/4 and 2004/5, around NZ$300 million each year. The Gambling Act restricted venues to 18 gaming machines, if licensed before 17 October 2001, and 9 for later licences. Local authorities can also limit new venues and control the expansion of others.

Total spending on gambling in New Zealand has also declined marginally over the last year. The main forms of betting – racing, lotteries, sports betting, non-casino gaming machines in pubs and clubs, and casinos showed a slight drop to NZ$2.027 from the previous year’s record high of NZ$2.039. 2004/5 figures for non-casino gaming machines fell 0.8% to NZ$1.027 billion and are expected to fall a further 7% for 2005/6. (E-02.01.06)

© Copyright 2006 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage