Gaming profits soar as lockdown ends

WELLINGTON: Profits from gaming machines have shown a huge leap on midyear figures, after Level 4 Covid19 lockdown ended.

The Department of Internal Affairs said the 116% increase on the June quarter — or $130,661,758 — was linked to the end of Covid19 restrictions.

The department said figures for the September quarter were higher than any of the June quarter figures for the past five years.

They were linked to regained access to class four venues after lockdown ended.

The venues had been closed for seven to eight weeks.

The figures were also influenced when the Auckland region moved back into Alert Level 3 lockdown.

‘‘New Zealanders were able to access class four venues which were closed for seven to eight weeks during the Covid19 lockdown, and then [closed] again as the Auckland region was moved back into Alert Level 3.’’

The profit for the September 2020 quarter was 8.1% higher than forecast, based on the March 2020 quarter and historic gambling patterns.

Te Tari Taiwhenua is changing the way it structures and presents gambling data to increase its usability for more audiences, in the hope that would provide more opportunities for understanding the wider gambling sector.

The Department of Internal Affairs releases quarterly statistics in its role as regulator for gambling.

The Ministry of Health funds and coordinates problem gambling services.

For free and confidential information call 0800 654 655 or consult the ministry’s website. — RNZ