Australia’s economy received a significant boost from electronic gaming machines (EGM) between 2016 and 2017. The economy received $5.96 billion during the period from the machines, which were also responsible for the direct creation of 46,660 new jobs. All financial amounts are quoted in US dollars.

The details were revealed in a recent study by the Centre for International Economics (COE). The COE had been commissioned by the Gaming Technologies Association to conduct the study to determine the financial benefit EGMs have had on the country’s economy.

The study also showed that tax revenue to state and commonwealth governments reached $3.94 billion during the same period. Exports, the use of gaming machines by international visitors along with the international sale of machines, contributed just over $203 million.

EGM player expenditure, which is the difference between the amount wagered and player returns, increased by over 50% from a decade prior. In the 1996-97 period, the expenditure amount was $5.87 billion, and this jumped to $9.03 billion during the most recently reviewed period.