Pokie machine spend increased by $1 2m in 2012

Punters dropped more than $8.5 million into Wairarapa pokie machines last year - nearly $23,500 each day.

Figures from the Department of Internal Affairs revealed spending on the machines increased by nearly $1.2m in the year to December.

This was despite a fall in the number of pokie machines in the region - down from 2254 to 2246.

Pokie spending fell slightly in Masterton and Carterton last year. But South Wairarapa recorded a sharp jump, with the amount fed into machines nearly doubling to just under $3 million.

Nationally, Kiwis spent nearly $840 million on pokie machines last year - $27.1 million (3.1 per cent) less than the previous year.

The number of gaming machines declined, from 18,133 to 17,670.

The Problem Gambling Foundation said the figures were encouraging.

"It certainly indicates that people are starting to understand about pokie machines and how addictive and dangerous they are," spokeswoman Andree Froude said.

"We want to see sinking-lid policies in place in our communities and that will help reduce the harm and enormous social cost and impact of problem gambling."

Thirty-seven per cent of gaming machine proceeds must be returned to the community, according to the Gambling Act.

Ms Froude said about 40 per cent of money dropped into pokies was spent by people who had a gambling problem.

Research also showed pokie machines were concentrated in poorer areas.

The Problem Gambling Foundation has warned that proposed changes to the Gambling Act, which would enable pub and bar owners to take profit on pokie machines if implemented, would result in an increase in problem gambling.

Industry group Hospitality NZ wants to introduce a commission-based payment system for venues which would entitle pub and bar owners to 16 per cent of poker machine profits. Currently, they are only permitted to take enough to cover their expenses.

Hospitality NZ also wants to remove the requirement for gaming trusts to return 37 per cent of profits to the community. This would be replaced with a requirement to return all money after tax and expenditure which would be capped under its proposals.