MARKET REPORT SUPPLEMENT www.euroslot-online.com
ITALY
Sapar, along with the other Italian sector
DECREE
associations, reacted immediately to these
tumultuous changes, demonstrating to politicians
There has not been much legislative movement the negative effects on the industry that would
The amendment includes the following tax
in Italy over the past 12 months, although a draft arise from the implementation of such an
conditions for 2009:
version of the regulations that will govern VLTs in increase. It must be recognised that this is a
• 12.6% if income remains the same as in 2008
Italy has now been published, giving details of period when the government is putting very little
(¤21.317 billion);
the location and pricing of the new machines, effort into fighting illegality and the industry is
• 11.6% if the income is up to 15% more than that of
and the timing of their introduction into the already investing heavily in the transition from
2008;
market. type 6 to type 6A machines (an investment of
• 9% if the income is 40-65% more than 2008
In addition there are concerns over the Unified approximately ¤750 million).
• 8% if income exceeds 2008 by 65%.
State Tax/Prelievo Erariale Unico (PREU) tax (the
unique tax collection imposed on slot machines)
modified by the 194/08 Decree.
In the 194/08 Decree the Italian government
VLTs are coming: the
Italy’s ongoing row over unlicensed betting
points has also escalated in the last 12 months,
increased the 12% tax rate to 12.7%, the
additional 0.7% for the benefit of the Italian
government needs Euros 500
with the government regulator disconnecting a
number of operators, including UK- owned
horseracing sector. As a consequence of this
action, the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI)
million for the construction
Betshop, from the government’s SOGEI reporting
network, leaving them unable to take bets.
took the opportunity to ask for a further 0.7% in
financial support. Time constraints did not allow
of new houses in L'Aquila
April numbers for gaming turnover in Italy
once again emphasised a story of continuing
for this request to be accepted and considered,
but it was submitted again in the final step of the
after the earthquake
growth in the sector, prompting the head of the
AAMS regulatory authority to debut new
approval procedure of the Financial Budget measures aimed at revitalising the failing
Law/Finanziaria for 2009. horseracing betting market.
Therefore, Article 2 (49) of the Finanziaria Some politicians have begun to understand the The European Commission has sent an official
made more adjustments to the PREU tax, negative impacts of the proposal and to discuss request (as a “Reasoned Opinion”) to Italy,
bringing it to 13.4%, while the total levy on the the potential solutions put forward by Sapar requiring it to comply with the European Court of
coin-op industry (including income for AAMS and prior to the approval of the 194/08 Decree. The Justice (ECJ) judgement on horse-racing licences.
the net providers) now stands at 14.2%. concept of the suggested “principle of By postponing the deadline for the implementation
According to trade body Sapar, this is a totally proportionality of taxation” (meaning: more of new improved laws, the Italian government is
unsustainable percentage for the industry, as it income, less taxation), is difficult to explain, but risking major sanctions from the EC.
brings the tax on cash after the payment of it was accepted as an amendment in the post- Over the past nine years, margin levels on
winnings to 56.8%. Christmas “Anti-Crisis” sports betting have shown small declines in Italy,
but with a favourable tax environment delivering
net margins at close to 18 percent, they still
remain extremely healthy compared to those
earned in other markets.
4
SEPTEMBER 2009
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