Spending on poker machines drops to seven-year low

Spending on pokies has dropped to a seven-year low. Photo / Christchurch Star

Spending on gaming or "pokie" machines has dropped to a seven-year low, the Department of Internal Affairs says.

In the 12 months to June 30, the amount gambled in 1501 pubs and clubs nationwide fell 5.3 per cent to $889 million, the lowest figure since 2002.

The number of licence holders, gambling venues and gaming machines also fell. Licence holders dropped 7.5 per cent to 384, venues dropped 3.3 per cent to 1501 and gaming machines were down 1.9 per cent to 19,479.

But although the annual figure was down, spending in the three months to June 30 rose 4 per cent.

Internal Affairs gambling compliance director Mike Hill said player information displays (PIDs), which became which became mandatory on all gaming machines at the beginning of the month, had little effect on the number of machines.

The displays were a "harm prevention measure" that let people know how long they had been playing and how much they had won or lost, he said. They also prompted players to take breaks.

"Despite suggestions from the gambling sector that the deadline for PIDs could not be achieved in time and that many venues would drop out,99.4 per cent of all machines were licensed by the end of June to run PIDs."

The Charity Gaming Association said the drop in gaming spending would mean many communities "miss out big time".

Association chairman Paul East said, the drop would translate to $16 million less in grants for community groups, which were already suffering because of the stressed economy.

- NZPA