source: pixabay.comFigures released from the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) in New Zealand highlighted the big spend Northlanders have on pokies machines.
In the first quarter of the year, Northlanders spent $7.4 million on pokies machines. This works out at just over $82,000 a day.
The money spent on class 4 pokies machines in Q1 was actually less than was spent in the final quarter of last year. The final months of 2021 saw a staggering $7.9m spent on pokies machines, which works out at $87,777 a day.
Last year saw a particularly big spend on pokies. A whopping $36m was spent on pokie machines in Northland in 2021. In 2020, the total spend was $32.7m.
The NZ government announced a $76m investment into a new Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm across the country. The strategy will include education initiatives to reduce harm to young people, and better support given to vulnerable communities including Māori, Pasifika and Asian.
Health Minister Andrew Little said:
“Gambling harm is a serious public health issue and can have a devastating effect on the wellbeing of individuals, whānau and communities. One in five New Zealanders will experience gambling harm in their lives, or know someone close who does,”
