8647.0 - Gambling Industries, Australia, Preliminary, 1997-98  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 08/04/1999   
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MEDIA RELEASE

April 8, 1999
Embargoed 11:30am (AEST)
42/99

Gambling net takings rise by 41% in three years - ABS

Preliminary figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the net takings from gambling of businesses in Australia's gambling industries were $11,067 million during 1997-98. This represented an increase of 41% since 1994-95, or a growth rate of 12% per annum over the period.

Poker/gaming machines were the major source of net takings, accounting for $6,371 million (an increase of 61% since 1994-95), which represents an increase of 17% per annum over the three year period. While the net takings for poker/gaming machines for 1997-98 were highest in clubs ($3,432 million), the greatest percentage increase occurred in casinos (104%) and pubs, taverns and bars (126%). Other major sources of net takings from gambling were $1,603 million from lotteries, lotto style games, football pools and club keno, $1,559 million from on-course totalisator and off-course TAB sales, and $1,432 million from casino table games.

During 1997-98, poker/gaming machines accounted for 58% of total net takings from gambling, a significant increase from 51% in 1994-95. In comparison, the proportion of total net takings from gambling on lotteries, lotto style games, football pools, instant money and club keno has decreased from 17% in 1994-95 to 15% in 1997-98. Similarly the proportion of net takings from on-course totalisator and off-course TAB sales has decreased from 19% to 14% for the same years.

Although businesses operating in New South Wales accounted for 41% of total net takings, the largest increases since 1994-95 have occurred in South Australia (64%) and Victoria (57%). During 1997-98, 70% ($7,761 million) of total net takings from gambling was received by businesses in New South Wales and Victoria.

Despite the large increase in net takings there was only a 7% increase in the number of businesses providing gambling services since June 1995. However, total employment by these businesses was 156,888, which represented an increase of 17% over the same period.

The most significant change in the gambling industries since 1994-95 has been in the pubs, taverns and bar industry. In that industry there has been a 20% increase in businesses with gambling facilities, a 118% increase in net takings from gambling, a 25% increase in employment and an increase in the operating profit before tax from $183 million to $582 million in 1997-98.

More details in Gambling Industries, Australia,1997-98, Preliminary (cat. no. 8647.0) available from ABS bookshops. A summary of findings from the publication is available from this site.