Punters have poured more than $53 million into pokies in southern pubs and clubs over the past year, Internal Affairs figures show.
Dunedin gamblers led the way, spending $18.8 million for the year ending March, followed by Invercargill ($16 million), Waitaki ($3.7 million) and Central Otago ($3.5 million).
The $53.4 million gambled on the southern region's 1543 non-casino pokies was down from $55 million during the previous year.
While all areas recorded a decline compared with the previous year, several areas bucked the downward trend last quarter.
For the January-to-March quarter, Central Otago recorded a $15,182 increase, Clutha $841, Dunedin $131,511, Gore $9395, Invercargill $142,137 and Waitaki $47,033 on the same quarter last year.
Only Queenstown-Lakes (down $80,629) and Southland (down $29,409) recorded a decline over the same quarter.
Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand chief executive Graeme Ramsey said it was always a concern when areas recorded an increase in pokie spending.
"However, I am hopeful it is just a blip rather than a change in pattern."
Nationwide, for the first time since 2008, pokie spending increased in the first quarter ($205.1 million), compared with the first quarter last year ($199.9 million).
Internal Affairs regulatory and compliance operations general manager Mike Hill said gambling had increased significantly in Christchurch venues not affected by the February earthquake.
While the earthquake affected a quarter of gaming-machine venues in the city, expenditure was up $600,000 during the first quarter of this year, compared with the same quarter last year.
"There are likely to be many reasons for this, including the closure of the Christchurch Casino. Some patrons may be particularly vulnerable in the post-earthquake environment and the department asks gaming-machine societies to remind venues of their host responsibility obligations and to be proactive over any changes in gambling behaviour," Mr Hill said.
