In 2017 the Stability Law was passed in Italy with the aim of reducing the number of slots in the market by around 30 per cent over a three year period. The number of machines dropped from 400,000 to around 265,000 whilst gaming venues were halved to around 50,000. The removal of the slots from bars was expected by this summer and by summer 2022 for gambling halls, but operators are calling for an extension to the rule giving them two years to comply.
Comma 7a are VLT machines regulated in 2009. Tese can payout prizes of up to €5,000 with network jackpots of up to €100,000. Tey can be installed in betting shops, bingo halls and gaming halls with a pre-set ratio of machines per size of venue. Tere are around 87,000 in the market.
January 2019 saw a few changes for the sector with AWP payouts reduced from 70 to 68 per cent payout on stakes and 85 to 84 per cent for VLTs. Tax rates were increased however and VLTs now pay 6.75 per cent and AWPs 18.85 per cent.
In 2017 the Stability Law was passed in Italy with the aim of reducing the number of slots in the market by around 30 per cent over a three year period. Te number of machines dropped from 400,000 to around 265,000 whilst gaming venues were halved to around 50,000.
Meanwhile a law to remove slots and VLT machines from bars and tobacconists, less than 300 metres from ‘sensitive’ locations such as schools, is being met with some resistance. Te removal of the slots from bars was expected by this summer and by summer 2022 for gambling halls, but operators are calling for an extension to the rule giving them two years to comply.
Te fear is a drastic reduction in turnover and employment. Some bars see 30-35 per cent of their turnover from slots and they are calling for a delay of two years until August 2022, particularly after the pandemic knock on effect.
Te date to re-open slot halls is also set for June 12 alongside sports betting and bingo halls. Tere were calls to bring this forward to June 3 mainly to give them some competition against neighbouring Austria and Slovenia who opened earlier.
SPORTS BETTING Italian betting activity saw only 10 days of
activity in March before lockdown was initiated. Te ADM figures saw GGR from online betting in March drop to around €49m a drop of 43 per cent from February figures. Te damage is nothing compared to that of the retail sector and the betting shops across Italy saw a total GGR of just €26m in March a drop of 73 per cent.
Te ADM has predicted a combined monthly loss of €750m for the industry divided between €450m for the Italian state and €300m for authorised gaming operators. Professional sports including Serie A football is due to be resumed mid June after the games were suspended on March 9 with most teams having 12 games still to play. Te matches will be held behind closed doors although a maximum of 300 people can be present with a maximum of 60 per team group.
NEWSWIRE / INTERACTIVE / MARKET DATA P39
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