Wairarapa gamblers lose $1.9m | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Wairarapa gamblers lost close to $2 million on gaming machines in the three months to December, an increase of $40,451 on the year before.

Latest figures from the Department of Internal Affairs show gamblers in Carterton and South Wairarapa districts were spending more money on the pokies, while the spend in Masterton dropped.

Carterton's 50 machines collected $421,251 in the December 2011 quarter, rising $32,668 on the same period the previous year.

South Wairarapa's 77 machines reeled in $426,622, up $28,139 on 2010.

The figures are the money spent by gamblers, less wins paid out. More than a third of the money goes to community trusts.

South Wairarapa District Councillor Viv Napier, who is on the Wairarapa gambling venues policy committee, was surprised at the increase.

"South Wairarapa has a high level of machines per head of population, so people have ample opportunity to use them and obviously people are taking that up.

"The policy makes sure there won't be any more. There is no opportunity for anyone to put any more in and, if someone gives up their machine, it will not be replaced."

Gambling machines have reduced in Wairarapa from 259 in 2003 to 243, but the smallest decrease has been in South Wairarapa, with a drop from 77 to 76.

In Masterton, proceeds from the district's 116 machines went down by $20,356 to $1,055,087 between the December 2010 and December 2011 quarters.

Masterton District Councillor Lyn Patterson said it was pleasing that gambling numbers were down. "I would like to think that [the policy] is having an impact."

A drop in proceeds for gaming charities was not a downside to the reduced take.

" I don't think you would have organisations that are upset that there's less gambling money floating around."

Nationally, gambling expenditure was up 3 per cent on 2010, from $840.7 million to $866.8 million.

Gaming machines return to the gambler an average of 90 cents for every dollar wagered, which leaves average proceeds of 10 cents. A minimum of 37.12 per cent of that amount is returned to the community by way of grants.

The Community Gaming Association's Brian Corbett said money goes back to the community where it's raised, with the exception of national trusts.