THE North Coast Petroleum Casino Truck Show continues to drive millions of dollars into the Richmond Valley economy, with new data revealing $8.319 million was spent across the region during the 2026 event period, up 18.8 percent on 2025.
CBA iQ data recorded 31,860 unique customers spending across the region from Wednesday 29 July to Sunday 2 August, up 22 per cent on 2025. Visitors to the area accounted for 46 per cent of all spending and 58 per cent of customers.
Casino businesses recorded $3.228 million in card spending, up 15.8 per cent, while the number of customers spending in the township increased 23.1 per cent to 23,300.
Richmond Valley Council Invest and Live Manager Stacey Mills said the figures demonstrated the significant flow-on benefits major events provided to local businesses.
“The Truck Show brings tens of thousands of people into Casino, but its economic benefits extend well beyond the event itself,” Ms Mills said.
“Almost half of the spending recorded across the Richmond Valley came from visitors, meaning genuine new money flowing through our accommodation providers, cafes, restaurants, service stations, retailers and other businesses.”
Ms Mills said the CBA iQ figures were particularly significant because they captured spending only at permanently established businesses.
“They don’t include spending with the food trucks, market stalls and temporary vendors which are such a big part of the Truck Show, so there is substantial event-related spending which isn’t represented in the $8.3 million figure,” Ms Mills said.
“The most important thing for us is seeing visitors come to Casino for the Truck Show and then spend their money with businesses throughout our community.”
The strong economic results were backed by the final visitor survey, with 885 respondents coming from 466 different towns and cities. Only four per cent were Richmond Valley residents, while 47 per cent travelled from interstate and 73 per cent stayed overnight.
Survey figures also showed the regional importance of the event, with visitors reported staying in Richmond Valley towns and villages, and across the region, including Lismore Ballina, Grafton, Yamba and Byron Bay.
The 2026 North Coast Petroleum Casino Truck Show attracted an estimated 45,000 people, with truck registrations reaching the 550-vehicle capacity within an hour and Friday Night Lights growing to 382 participating trucks.
Visitor satisfaction was also exceptionally high, with 96 per cent rating their experience four or five out of five and 98 per cent saying they were likely or very likely to attend again.
Ms Mills said the results reinforced the Truck Show’s growing importance to the Richmond Valley and Northern Rivers visitor economy.
“The combination of strong spending, interstate visitation and overnight stays shows why the Truck Show is so valuable to our region,” Ms Mills said.
“It brings new people and new money into the Richmond Valley, supports our local businesses and gives thousands of visitors another reason to come back and discover more of our region.”