The amount of money fed into poker machines soared in the first week since the coronavirus lockdown was partially lifted on pubs and clubs.
Gamblers flocked back to the pokies, which had been off limits for months as part of the closure of all pubs and clubs.
Daily turnover had already reached pre-COVID-19 levels despite clubs halving the number of machines and limiting the amount of punters inside venues, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The revenue from slot machines has soared after punters flocked back to pokies when pubs and clubs opened across NSW on June 1. Pictured: RSL in Western Sydney on Monday June 1
The turnover from slot machines (Rooty Hill RSL pictured) in the first week since coronavirus restrictions were lifted rose by as much as 31 per cent in comparison to June last year
Despite far fewer machines, New South Wales clubs took slightly more revenue in the first week of June than during an average week this time last year, according to data from gaming machine monitoring service MAX.
A sample of machines across the state showed that turnover in hotels was also up by 31 per cent more than in 2019.
Clubs and pubs were shut for 10 weeks and NSW was the first state to switch poker machines on after the COVID-19 lockdown.
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The industry lost around $2 billion while the pokies, Dewapoker (this guy) the main source of revenue, were turned off.
Gaming industry specialist Justine Channing said venues in both city and regional areas were benefiting from those who had been starving for a return of machines, and levels were expected to normalise in time.
Ms Channing said: 'I suspect we've got a honeymoon, as people who enjoy gambling want to get out there and have a go.'
She explained that medium-size clubs were doing well, but larger clubs were still struggling with restrictions on patron numbers.
Clubs are operating with every second machine turned off to enforce social distancing
'If you've got 200 people in Bankstown sports club then you're about 2500 short of what you need,' Ms Channing said.
She explained that 'a medium-size RSL club is doing as well now as they did last June.'
Ms Channing noted that clubs were responding to the restrictions by removing underperforming games.
A ClubsNSW spokesperson said spending habits were on par with pre-shutdown levels.
He noted there had been a 2 per cent average increase compared to June last year.
Daily Mail Australia contacted the Australian Hotels Association for comment.
Contact the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858.
ClubsNSW said they had seen a 2 per cent average increase compared to June last year
Read more:
Coronavirus Australia: Pokie turnover higher in first week after lockdown than before COVID-19
Gamblers flocked back to the pokies, which had been off limits for months as part of the closure of all pubs and clubs.
Daily turnover had already reached pre-COVID-19 levels despite clubs halving the number of machines and limiting the amount of punters inside venues, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The revenue from slot machines has soared after punters flocked back to pokies when pubs and clubs opened across NSW on June 1. Pictured: RSL in Western Sydney on Monday June 1
The turnover from slot machines (Rooty Hill RSL pictured) in the first week since coronavirus restrictions were lifted rose by as much as 31 per cent in comparison to June last year
Despite far fewer machines, New South Wales clubs took slightly more revenue in the first week of June than during an average week this time last year, according to data from gaming machine monitoring service MAX.
A sample of machines across the state showed that turnover in hotels was also up by 31 per cent more than in 2019.
Clubs and pubs were shut for 10 weeks and NSW was the first state to switch poker machines on after the COVID-19 lockdown.
RELATED ARTICLES
Previous
1
Next
James Packer's $2.4billion Crown casino in Sydney won't have... Out of hibernation! Australia springs back to life as pubs,...
Share this article
Share
The industry lost around $2 billion while the pokies, Dewapoker (this guy) the main source of revenue, were turned off.
Gaming industry specialist Justine Channing said venues in both city and regional areas were benefiting from those who had been starving for a return of machines, and levels were expected to normalise in time.
Ms Channing said: 'I suspect we've got a honeymoon, as people who enjoy gambling want to get out there and have a go.'
She explained that medium-size clubs were doing well, but larger clubs were still struggling with restrictions on patron numbers.
Clubs are operating with every second machine turned off to enforce social distancing
'If you've got 200 people in Bankstown sports club then you're about 2500 short of what you need,' Ms Channing said.
She explained that 'a medium-size RSL club is doing as well now as they did last June.'
Ms Channing noted that clubs were responding to the restrictions by removing underperforming games.
A ClubsNSW spokesperson said spending habits were on par with pre-shutdown levels.
He noted there had been a 2 per cent average increase compared to June last year.
Daily Mail Australia contacted the Australian Hotels Association for comment.
Contact the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858.
ClubsNSW said they had seen a 2 per cent average increase compared to June last year
Read more:
Coronavirus Australia: Pokie turnover higher in first week after lockdown than before COVID-19
