Gaming on the rise for quake-hit Christchurch

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Some Christchurch residents may be turning to gambling to soothe their nerves following the region's deadly quake, figures suggest.

Internal Affairs figures released today show Christchurch gaming was up in the first three months of this year, despite a quarter of Christchurch's gaming pubs being knocked out by the February 22 quake.

Expenditure for the three months totalled $19 million - $600,000 more than last year's first quarter.

"Some patrons may be particularly vulnerable in the post-earthquake environment and the department asks gaming machine societies to remind venues of their host responsibility obligations and to be proactive over any changes in gambling behaviour," spokesman Mike Hill said.

Mr Hill said gambling increased significantly in many Christchurch venues which survived the earthquake - in line with similar spending trends across the hospitality industry in Christchurch.

He said the closure of the Christchurch Casino was likely to have contributed to the rise in spending at other gambling venues.

Gaming machine expenditure in the country's 1400 pubs and clubs also staged a small recovery in the first three months of 2011 compared with the same time last year, despite there being less operators, venues and gaming machines.

First quarter spending of $205.1m this year was up on 2010's first quarter of $199.9m, the first such increase since 2008.

Spending usually dropped over summer and this year was no exception as takings were 5 per cent down - from $215.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 to $205.1 million by the end of March 2011.

Nationwide there were 365 operators, down from 374 last year, 1430 venues, down from 1470 and 18,484 gaming machines, down from 19,115.

Gaming machine spending in pubs and clubs has been monitored electronically since March 2007.

- NZPA