The number of people playing gaming machines in Spain is dropping according to figures released by several major suppliers to the market.
Spanish distributor and operator Codere has presented results that show the business of amusement machines in the country grew 2.2 per cent to €208.6m, however this figure is not comparable as the company increased its number of machines by 3.4 per cent to 15,963. Therefore, when comparing the same number of terminals with respect to 2007, revenues from this activity actually fell just over one per cent.
According to Codere, sources this is the first decline in the sector since 1993, which is also affected by the same symptoms in its bingo halls in Spain. In this area, its revenue rose 19 per cent in 2008 but the figure is not recurring as in the previous year Bingo Canoe was closed, the largest bingo location in Madrid.
The average daily revenue in the amusement machine sector also fell – by 6.1 per cent in 2008. This decline was more aggressive in the last quarter of last year, when the average spending fell by 9.4 per cent.
