Update ITALY VLT MARKET
the italian Bottleneck Some of the concessionaires have not yet started their roll-out of VLTs, while the collaudo process and machine and system testing programme is already stretched to capacity. A testing legacy of the Comma 6a debacle, which saw domestic testing laboratories in Italy attempting to certify hugely complicated gaming machines, has left SOGEI with an unenviable task.
Under-resourced and low on skilled manpower, the exact number of qualified testing engineers dedicated to gaming became something of a mantra at the recent Rimini ENADA Spring show. Numbers varied between one and four, but the resultant bottle-neck of certification and approvals showed first- hand that the paranoia of AAMS in keeping VLT testing in-house has compromised its integrity and poured cold water on the expectations of a gaming industry that has followed its rules to the letter of the law. Frustration pervaded every aspect of the VLT debate, with only a handful of suppliers happy with their current lot.
Right now, it's clear that suppliers Lottomatica and Spielo are market leaders, closely followed by Novomatic, with Inspired performing remarkably, ACE Interactive strongly interconnected with its partner COGETECH, with new entrant
Your
Barcrest now quickly getting up to speed. However, the handful of suppliers currently serving the market are predicted to remain at the forefront, with second wave leaders Bally Technologies and WMS Gaming expected to make a big impact alongside APEX gaming.
There remain question marks as to whether other suppliers will have the stamina and willpower to stay the homologation course, which has proved far lengthier and more involved than anyone initially foresaw. AAMS had wanted to complete the second wave of homologation in November 2010 at the latest, but this process as of March 2011 had yet to commence, with game content suppliers still waiting for their opportunity to speak to SOGEI. Those sceptical of the delays are critical of the Italian authorities who were quick to licence VLTs but have shown a lack of interest in hurrying through the deployment process. Some blame the continued success of Comma 6a in the marketplace. Had revenues and therefore taxes fallen dramatically in the face of VLT introduction, the government may have been incentivised to hasten the homologation process. As it stands today, however, SOGEI does not appears in any great hurry to start the second phase.
The AAMS has published statistics that
greece Greece’s government has filed its draft VLT legislation with the EU. Seeking to call an end to its daily fine of €33,000 imposed by the EU as a result of Greece's anti-competitive 2002 gaming ban, that account for over €12m in needless payments, Greece has already written into its budget for 2011 €700m revenues from VLT street gaming and needs, therefore, to implement the measures quickly. The draft proposals call for a minimum stake of €0.10 and a maximum of €5, with a payout to players of 80 per cent. There is a gross gaming tax of 30 per cent and a player tax of 10 per cent. Between four and 10 licences will be granted for a total of 25,000 machines, while it is understood that a further 5,000 machines may be authorised for lower-stake machines, with licences valid for 10 years. However, there are rumours that Greece is also looking to favour OPAP in the initial phase of VLT roll-out, with perhaps a single operators licence granted to OPAP for up to a two year period. However, the new rules must be approved by the EU before they can go into force.
Comma 6a have a max bet of 1 euro,
a maximum win of 100 euros and a
percentage payout of at least 75 per
cent of bets placed, and are
widespread in public venues.
show an increase in income from Italian gaming territories of 13 per cent in 2010. Despite the relative lack of machine numbers, incomes from VLTs have thrilled both concessionaires and government. In a country with just four casinos and a population of 60 million, the appetite for new gaming options has yet to be sated. Measures in the future as to the impact of VLTs on revenue figures will need to be separated from boosts in revenue from the online gaming sector, which in March added cash games to its former limited online offer of poker tournament play.
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