Home » AU Pokie Industry Survey Reveals Billions in Revenues
AU Pokie Industry Survey Reveals Billions in Revenues
At this year’s Australasian Gaming Expo, it was revealed that pokies contribute roughly AU$8.32 billion (NZ$9.18 billion) to the economy of Australia. At least AU$5.5 billion (NZ$6.07 billion) went to tax revenues from leading Pokie operators. The survey was conducted on behalf of the Gaming Technologies Association (GTA), who represents the pokie industry.
Gaming providers like Aristocrat Technologies, Scientific Games, Konami and Tabcorp are part of the GTA. Their statistics were shared with the survey, and have revealed some startling statistics. Ross Ferrar presented the statistics to the public at the expo on behalf of the research group. According to Ferrar, the gambling operators and the pokie industry ‘benefits all Australians’. This is because tax revenues from the gambling sector are used to benefit public infrastructure.
Pokie Industry Statistics in Australia
However, some of Ferrar’s claims have sparked a lot of criticism from anti-gambling campaigns. His claims that poker machines offer ‘harmless’ entertainment and enjoyment to millions of Australians riled up these campaigners. Unfortunately, Ferrar denied the ‘dramatic effects on individuals and their families from ‘problem gambling’. Federal statistics show that he is mistaken, as players lost AU$12 billion (NZ$13.24 billion) to pokies alone.
There is a popular idea that Australia has the largest amount of poker machines per capita. This has been proven wrong, according to new data. The World Count of Gaming Machines 2018 proved that Australia only has 2.53% of all machines in the world. This means that Aussies are fifth, while Japan is in first place. Still, the total amount of gaming machines is 197 021, which equates to 125 125 people per pokie.
Anti-Pokie Campaigners
Australia is currently in the middle of a debate about the pokie industry and its effects on gamblers. Despite the revenues from the gaming machines, there are thousands of problem gambling cases in the country. This makes a strong case for anti-gambling campaigners and sentiments. However, the gaming machine contributions to schools, roads, hospitals and infrastructure can’t be ignored. Hopefully, the debate will end with some form of compromise.
Taralynn Engels is a seasoned casino news writer with a passion for keeping her readers up-to-date with the latest happenings in the gambling industry. With over five years of professional writing experience, Taralynn has developed a deep understanding of the casino industry and a knack for delivering engaging and informative content. Aside from her in-depth knowledge of the casino industry, Taralynn possesses excellent writing skills that allow her to craft captivating narratives that keep readers hooked until the last word. Her ability to simplify complex concepts and present them in an accessible manner guarantees that her articles are enjoyed by both seasoned casino enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
It’s been a year since the most recent PlayItForward initiative was launched and Microgaming’s staff has managed to raise over $97813. It’s a space for employees to nominate and vote for charitable causes. The PlayItForward initiative is Microgaming’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme and has been running for five years. The online gaming software developer […]
Leading online payment services are starting to withdraw from the Brazilian market. Two such services, Neteller and Skrill, will begin blocking payments from illegal Internet casinos in February. These banking options are part of the Paysafe Group, which has withdrawn from other markets over illegal gambling concerns. Skrill no longer accepts deposits and withdrawals from […]
The 150-year-old Thames Racing Club could be closing its doors in the 2019/20 racing season. It is one of the ten horseracing venues around New Zealand that are facing a shutdown. The Thames Racing Club, which celebrated its 150 years of existence last year, hasn’t been able to race its own track for the past […]
In a letter to the state’s 13 casino operators, Executive Director Kevin O’Toole stated that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has approved interactive gaming. Gaming and poker sites will be allowed to go live on 15 July 2019. Online gambling and poker were made official under the state’s gaming growth package that was signed […]
The popularity of Chinese online gambling is growing and the republic isn’t happy with the effects on its society. Online casinos on the other side of the world offer Chinese gamblers hundreds of gaming sessions for popular casino games on the internet. A single baccarat table at these casino sites targeting Chinese players can draw […]