The Queensland pubs and clubs electronic gaming machine (EGM) market experienced significant growth in July, recording a 7.7 percent increase compared to the same period last year and a 14.8 percent rise from the previous month.
According to Wohlsen Consulting, this surge in demand resulted in a new monthly record for Average Daily Revenue (ADR) per machine across the state, reaching AU$263 ($173), surpassing the previous record of AU$244 ($160) set in July of the previous year.
This performance is largely attributed to the cash influx from income tax returns, a common trend during this period. However, the strength of these results is particularly noteworthy given that June benefited from 14 weekend trading days, while July only had 12 weekend trading periods.
Hotels saw a substantial benefit from this growth, increasing their market share to a record 58 percent, compared to clubs, which held 42 percent. This shift in market dynamics may be influenced by a younger working demographic, who likely saw an increase in disposable income due to tax returns and cuts.
Additionally, the recent restrictions imposed on June 11th regarding the use of credit cards and digital currencies for online betting may be driving some players towards EGM play, especially in hotels, creating a substitution effect that has bolstered the market’s performance.
