Gaming Statistics for 2000-01 Released
Nova Scotians wagered more than a billion dollars on provincial gaming activities during the 2000-01 fiscal year, according to figures released by the Nova Scotia Alcohol and Gaming Authority.
The authority's annual gaming report noted that total gaming wagers on bingo, lottery tickets, casino games and video lottery terminals (VLTs) hit $1.12 billion, a seven-per cent increase over the previous year.
More than $750 million of this was returned to players in the form of prizes, accounting for two-thirds of the total wager. Another $180 million, or 16 per cent, was turned over to the provincial government to fund programs and services.
In 2000-01, nearly $476 million was wagered on VLTs, up 5.6 per cent over the previous year. The terminals remained the most popular form of gaming in the province, accounting for 42.3 per cent of the total provincial wager.
Casinos experienced the greatest wager growth rate, reporting a 13.5 per cent increase in one year to $345 million. Despite the increase, casino net revenues dropped as a result of increased interest and amortization expenses related to the new Halifax Casino, which opened in April 2000.
About $204 million was spent on Atlantic Lottery Corp. lottery products, up 4.8 per cent over the year before. It is estimated that new agency agreements signed in 2001 between the Nova Scotia Gaming Corp. and Atlantic Lottery Corp. will yield an additional $5 million or $6 million each year to the province.
The amounts wagered on bingos and charitable lotteries fell 1.5 and 4.1 per cent, respectively. Participation and revenues for these activities have declined in recent years, partly due to competition from other forms of gaming available throughout the province.
The Nova Scotia Alcohol and Gaming Authority was established in 1995 to, among other things, regulate gaming in the province. It has a mandate to ensure honesty and integrity in all areas of gaming and to study and report yearly on gaming in Nova Scotia.
Copies of the annual gaming report can be found on the Alcohol and Gaming Authority Web site, at www.gov.ns.ca/aga.