Over 7.4 M legal gaming machines in the world in 2018, GTA report says

In 2018 Spain reduced machine numbers by almost 9% which resulted in Australia moving up a position in the rankings of machine numbers by country.

2019-10-31

Australia

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According to the World Count of Gaming Machines 2018, Japan had 4,302,731 units, 58% of the world total. United States is second with 898,974 units, followed by Italy with 320,000.

The Gaming Technologies Association (GTA) released the World Count of Gaming Machines for 2018. The estimate of the number of gaming machines that were installed legally worldwide last year is 7,402,395. Though Japan number of machines saw a 4.92% decrease, it had the highest number of machines (4,302,731), accounting for 58% of the world's total. That country does not allow gambling, but machines in Japan do not pay money as prizes. However it is known that prizes are exchanged for money indirectly, hence the inclusion of these machine numbers in the report, GTA explains.

Japan was followed by the United States with 898,974 units, a 2% increase from 2017, representing an 11.54% of the world’s total. Massachusetts state (3,731 machines) saw the highest increase from 2017, by 211%. Italy came in third place with 320,000 gaming machines.

Australia was estimated to have 196,301 machines installed in 2018, a reduction of 720 machines from the previous year, which gave it 2.6% of the world’s legally installed machines. In 2018 Spain reduced machine numbers by almost 9% which resulted in Australia moving up a position in the rankings of machine numbers by country.

“The 2018 edition of GTA’s annual worldwide survey of gaming machine numbers once again dispels myths around the proportion of gaming machine numbers in Australia,” stated Chris Muir, CEO of Gaming Technologies Association. “This survey confirms that Australian gaming machines have some of the world’s lowest maximum bet limits which is consistent with what we have found in previous surveys.”

The World Count of Gaming Machines provides an insight into the global gaming machine industry through a survey of the number of gaming machines legitimately operating worldwide. Gaming machines can be found in thousands of locations globally, from casinos to cruise boats, in clubs and local bars, racing venues, amusement parlours, restaurants, petrol stations, and even in corner stores and cafes.

GTA has commissioned the World Count of Gaming Machines since 1999. It is a not-for-profit industry association, established in 1990 as a company limited by guarantee for the purpose of promoting the development of the manufacturing resources of Australia. Its members provide technology and equipment to hospitality venues in over 300 jurisdictions around the world.

GTA hosts and operates the Australasian Gaming Expo. GTA’s members are Ainsworth Game Technology, Aruze Gaming Australia, IGT (Australia), Interblock Asia Pacific, Konami Australia, Scientific Games and Tabcorp Holdings Ltd. Associate members include Atlas Gaming, Independent Gaming, Paltronics Australasia, Utopia Gaming Systems and Wymac Gaming. JCM Global is an affliate member.