ReportsITALY
In April 2010 the licences for the current concessionaires expires however an automatic renewal process is in place. At this time other companies may apply for the concessionaire rights although the criteria for such an application is tough.
Some suggest that the government will require more revenue from the VLT licences than the current concessionaires can afford to meet. Therefore the government may well open the door to further concessionaires at this time.
In the meantime not everyone is happy with the new law. Some operators are sceptical of the success of the VLTS. Traditionally Italy has welcomed bar machines and operators say they are happy with the performance and return on investment of the Comma 6a machines.
However on the other hand some say the VLTs can herald a whole new gaming era with players demanding new games forcing operators to renew and invest.
Although the foreign casino suppliers are eagerly developing VLTs for one of the few available lucrative markets in a time of economic troubles, the Italian operators are not as positive.
Some believe although the advent of new
technology is always a good thing the timing is poor plus with plans for large scale gaming hall operations about to be developed to house VLTs the future for small to medium operators looks bleak.
Tiziano Tredese of Elmac said: “The time is wrong. We need a minimum of two years to pay for the change over to the Comma 6a and no other manufacturers can do anything because of the concessionaire’s hold on the market.”
Meanwhile the details of how operations will work within the new VLT market are still sketchy and indeed have not been formally arranged.
VLTs can be operated in bingo halls, betting shops, dedicated arcades and gaming arcades (with a separate accessed room) and some predict they may also be permitted in bars eventually.
There will be up to 30 VLTs permitted in a gaming hall of 50-100 sq.m and 70 VLTs in a hall of 101-300 sq.m and 150 VLTs for gaming halls over 300 sq.m in size.
Although some operators say it will no doubt work on a revenue split the question is will that prove profitable enough for the operators of smaller arcades.
Therewill be up to 30 VLTs permitted in a
gaming hall of 50-100
sq.mand 70 VLTs in a hall of 101-300 sq.m and 150 VLTs for
gaming halls over 300 sq.min size.
Filippo Ferri of GLI Italia said: “There is some social stigma about gaming halls. We do not have casinos and the moment you create them you create a different environment.
“The Comma 6a machines are everywhere and it justifies the old lady playing but when you make it into a destination in a period of crisis there are some implications. There is bound to be some backlash.
“One major thing is in the new VLT dimension the traditional Italian operator disappears. What was the cornerstone of this industry, the small regular operator, in the new VLT scenario they will disappear.
“System providers will create their own venues or the concessionaires will create their own venues and what is left for the medium sized operator to do?”
Auxiliary companies are also keen to cash in on the Italian market at the moment particularly regarding cashless system, board developers and touchscreen manufacturers.
The legislation states that VLTs should include the ‘necessary devices’ for the conduct of the game including coin in/out, notes in/out and the ticket in/out
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