The poker machine industry has been shut down in Tasmania since the 24th of March. The industry is set to re-open on Friday the 26th of June.

Re-opening these venues will provide immediate employment to staff previously stood down. However, this research shows that, in broader terms, poker machines (“pokies”, “electronic gaming machines” or “EGMs”) are a drain on the state economy and on jobs.

Tasmania has been hard hit by COVID-19, suffering more job losses per capita than any other state. It can therefore be assumed that Tasmanians are also receiving a high level of JobSeeker and JobKeeper support per capita. These payments are designed to assist the unemployed and provide stimulus into a suppressed economy. Poker machines are highly profitable for owners, but low return for job creation.

This analysis shows that, since the lockdown began in late March, around $42 million that would normally be spent on the pokies has not been spent on the pokies.