8647.0 - Gambling Industries, Australia, Preliminary, 1997-98  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/06/1999   
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MEDIA RELEASE

June 28, 1999
Embargoed 11:30am (AEST)
76/99

Gambling net takings of over $11 billion confirmed

During 1997-98, the net takings from gambling of businesses in Australia's gambling industries were $11,091 million, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in Gambling Industries, Australia 1997-98. This publication updates and expands on the preliminary results released in April 1999 in Gambling Industries, Australia, Preliminary 1997-98 (cat. no. 8647.0).

These net takings represented an increase of 42% since 1994-95. During 1997-98, the major form of gambling was poker/gaming machines which accounted for net takings of $6,401 million or 58% of the total net takings from gambling. In 1994-95 poker/gaming machines accounted for 51% of net takings. The $6,401 million comprised $3,595 million taken in clubs, $2,106 million taken in pubs, taverns and bars and $700 million in casinos.

Other major sources of net takings from gambling during 1997-98 were $1,432 million from casino gaming tables, $1,430 million from off-course TAB sales and $1,179 million from lotteries, lotto-style games and football pools.

Based on an Australian adult population of just over 14 million at the end of June 1998, the $11,091 million in net takings from gambling represented a loss of $790 per head of adult population, which was a 35% increase since 1994-95. New South Wales ($945 per adult) and Victoria ($927 per adult) were well above the Australian average, while Western Australia had the lowest ($472 per adult) reflecting the fact that Western Australia was the only state that did not have poker/gaming machines in clubs, pubs, taverns and bars. The largest increases in gambling expenditure per adult since 1994-95 occurred in South Australia (63%), Victoria (51%) and Queensland (40%).

Of the major gambling activities, but excluding poker machines and casino gaming, the highest percentage payouts measured in terms of gross and net takings were on-course totalisator and off-course TABs with 84.4% and 84.2% respectively. The lowest percentage payout was recorded by lotteries, lotto-style games and football pools (56.1%) and instant money sales (59.1%).

During 1997-98, the gambling taxes and levies paid to government by businesses totalled $3,717 million, which represented 34% of the net takings from gambling of these businesses. The largest contributors by type of gambling were poker/gaming machines located in clubs, pubs, taverns and bars with $1,725 million or 46% of all gambling taxes and levies.

A summary of the publication is also available on this site. The ABS encourages media organisations with online news services to link to the summary. Please phone us if you need assistance to do this.