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There are over 11,000 businesses in the sports, recreation and gambling industries according to surveys conducted by the ABS.

There were 5,066 businesses in the sports industries at 30 June 1995. These businesses employed 58,414 persons and generated $2,517m in income during 1994-95. There were 112,877 unpaid volunteers, representing 66% of persons working in sports industries.

Other recreation services, which include amusement parks or arcades, sideshows, circuses and agricultural shows, comprised 666 businesses, employing 10,138 persons and 3,518 volunteers.

Results of new surveys of these industries in respect of the 2000-01 financial year will be available by mid 2002.

There were 1,776 businesses in the gambling services industries at 30 June 1998. These businesses employed 37,035 persons and received $7,935m in income, the major source of income (91%) being the takings (net of payouts to players) and commissions from gambling (table 12.31). Total expenses for the gambling services industries were $7,518m, of which 35% were gambling taxes and levies.

There were 3,749 businesses in the hospitality clubs industry at 30 June 1998, employing 67,272 persons and receiving total income of $6,013m. Of these businesses, 2,408 had gambling facilities and received income from gambling of $3,208m.

Gambling services were also provided by 2,888 pubs, taverns and bars. The total net takings from gambling during 1997-98 from all businesses involved in gambling were $11,091m, of which 57.7% ($6,401m) was from poker/gaming machines, 12.9% from off-course TAB and 14.4% from lotteries, lotto style games, football pools, instant money and club keno. Net takings from poker/gaming machines were $3,595m for clubs; $2,106m for pubs, taverns and bars; and $700m for casinos.

The section Gambling services in Service industries contains some further details for these industries.