Fewer people gambled last year - Internal Affairs

File photo / Bay of Plenty Times

Fewer people gambled in the country's 1400 pubs and clubs last year compared to 2009, according to the Department of Internal Affairs.

Gaming machine expenditure in the year ended December 31, 2010, was 3 per cent lower than in 2009 with spending dropping from $865.5 million to $840.7 million.

However, spending in October, November and December last year was $664,000 up on the September quarter with increases in pubs and chartered clubs, but less spent in sports clubs and RSAs.

Overall spending at non-casino gaming machines increased by $15.9m from the March quarter to the December quarter last year, compared to the previous year's increase of $10.1m over the same period.

There were also fewer licence-holders, gambling venues and gaming machines at the end of 2010 compared with 12 months earlier. Licence-holders fell 3 per cent from 378 to 367, venues declined from 1491 to 1443 and gaming machines decreased by 3.5 per cent from 19,359 to 18,681.

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.

- NZPA