Spending on gaming machines in New Zealand’s pubs and clubs fell significantly during the first three months of the year.
Figures from the Department of Internal Affairs found that expenditure in the country’s 1,367 venues dropped 10 per cent during the first quarter of 2013, compared with the final three months of the previous year.
Spending dropped from NZ$214.6m in the fourth quarter of 2012 to NZ$197.7m in the following three months. For the 12 months to March 2013, expenditure was down four per cent to NZ$828.7m.
Nationwide, there were fewer licence holders, gambling venues and gaming machines at the end of March compared with 12 months earlier. Licence holders fell from 359 to 353, venues declined from 1,403 to 1,367 and the number of gaming machines decreased from 18,001 to 17,542.
The news follows a recent consultation launched in Auckland to limit the spread of gaming machine venues and TAB betting outlets. The local council proposed a ‘sinking lid’ policy that would stipulate that when a venue closes another cannot open, eventually reducing the number of locations in operation.
