Gaming companies plough cash into R&D

Australia's leading gaming companies are spending more than $73 million annually in research and development (R&D).

The financial commitment constitutes a collective effort to sustain a strong national industry, according to a survey by the Australasian Gaming Machine Manufacturers Association (AGMMA).

Chairman of the AGMMA Technical Committee, John Duffy, said the investment helps the Australian gaming industry develop the world's best gaming products.

"Australian gaming companies are now recognised for producing among the most innovative, high-technology machines in the world as a result of the investment we make in R&D and the highly qualified technicians that we employ," said Duffy.

"As a result of our R&D commitment, the industry has delivered innovations which have made machines more reliable and secure, and we have been able to create a distinctive Australian style product which uses dual LCD screens displaying enhanced 3-D graphics and high quality sound systems.

"A lot of innovations here are being adopted globally."

Duffy said a significant chunk of the profits of certain companies is ploughed back into R&D.

"When comparing spend to profits, the gaming industry is well represented with two members, who spend 8.3 percent and 6.7 percent of sales on R&D, ranked 12th and 18th respectively out of all Australian enterprises," he said.