Electronic gaming machines (EGMs) contributed AU$8.32 billion to the Australian economy in 2016-17 and provided direct employment to 46,660 people, a new study by the Centre for International Economics has found.
The study, which was commissioned by the Gaming Technologies Association, also calculated tax revenue for Australia’s state and commonwealth governments at AU$5.5 billion over the same period, with exports totaling AU$284 million from the use of gaming machines by international visitors and sales of machines overseas.
Player expenditure on EGMs, defined as the difference between wagers and player returns, reached AU$12.6 billion – an increase of 50% on AU$8.2 billion in 1996-97.
Meanwhile, the number of people employed directly via the use of EGMs in Australia’s pubs and clubs during the period was estimated to be 42,724 with another 1,884 in casinos and 2,052 in the manufacturing sector.
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