Canadian net gambling revenues remain flat

This story was published more than 13 years ago.

Net revenue from provincial government-run lotteries, video lottery terminals, casinos and slot machines not in casinos totalled Cdn$13.75-billion in 2009, essentially unchanged from the year before, Statistics Canada reported this week.

Note: all dollar figures in this article are CDN.

The monitoring agency revealed that revenue from gambling plateaued at roughly $13.7 billion in 2007, and has remained at a consistent level ever since.

In 2009, casino gambling accounted for 34% of the net revenue, with lotteries making up a further 26%; slot machines outside casinos, mainly at racetracks 21%, and VLTs 19%.

Profits from gambling totalled just over $6.7 billion in 2008, or 4.7% of all provincial revenue.

Using 2008 numbers, Stats Canada reports that gambling participation and average expenditures increased with household income. For example, 51% of households with incomes of less than $20,000 gambled, spending an average of $395.

Among households with incomes of $80,000 or more 78% gambled, spending an average of $555 in 2008.

Provincially, average household spending on gambling in 2008 was highest in Saskatchewan at $720, followed by Alberta at $645. It was lowest in Quebec at $390.

Source: InfoPowa News