Kiwi gambling spending up, except for lotteries; SkyCity VIP’s epic binge

New Zealand gamblers spent slightly more on pretty much all forms of legal betting last year except for lottery products.

According to data released by the country’s Department of Internal Affairs, Kiwis spent a combined $2.09b on gambling in the 2014-15 fiscal year, 1.2% more than in the previous year. Adjusted for inflation, the numbers have barely budged over the past six years, ranging from $2.06b in 2011 to $2.1b in 2012.

Lottery products were the sole decliners, as sales fell 10% to $894m, while operators’ take fell 9% to $420m. The decline snapped a winning streak that had seen lottery sales rising an average 5% per year since 2010. The reversal was blamed on a lack of mega-jackpots, as only one Powerball prize topped the $20m mark.

Despite its routine bitching about losing money to international betting sites, the NZ Racing Board (TAB) reported turnover up 13% to $2.07b while the operator’s share rose 5% to $325m. This marks the fourth straight year of rising numbers, which the NZRB credited to increased sports betting interest and a new TAB mobile wagering app.