First-ever industry decline
New Zealanders spent almost $2.1 billion on gambling last year, an overall increase of 1 percent. But gambling in casinos dropped $11 million to $509 million, the first time the industry has seen a decline, reports the New Zealand Business Day.
Figures from the nation’s Department of Internal Affairs figures show that lotteries rose 7 percent to a record $463 million in the 2013-14 fiscal year. Spending at the TAB?the New Zealand Racing Board?was up 5.6 percent to $311 million, breaking the previous record.
According to DIA, gambling has increased every year since 2010. Factoring in inflation, however, the total spend was down almost 20 percent from 2004, when New Zealanders spent $2.6 billion in 2015 dollars, reported the Business Day.
