Italy- casino sector
Italy’s four land-based casinos have, between them, incurred a decrease amounting to more than 40% of GGR since 2005, and the municipally-owned businesses in Venice, Campione, Sanremo and Saint-Vincent continue to face pressure from gaming machines and Videolotteries (VLTs) capillaryly distributed across the country. The competitiveness is steadily increasing also as a consequence of an expansion in the remote gambling sector. The online market is constantly expanding and it has grown to an annual turnover of € 21.2bn in 2016.
As of December 2016, Italy had an installed base of 407,000 gaming machines (AWP) and 54,000 VLTs, which in 2016 recorded a total turnover of € 49.4bn.
This is the situation as registered at the end of December 2016. That is to say, for the time being, a growing market notwithstanding the adopted legislation which provides for a set distance between gambling venues and locations such as schools and churches.
In September 2017, an agreement was signed between regional and national authorities which aims to find a structural agreed upon solution for a deep and whole reform of gambling in Italy, including the B&M casino sector. One of the other targets of the reform is to reduce the number of shops authorized to sell gambling products and services. Besides of that, the reform aims to increase security systems introducing a new generation of AWP slot machines denominated AWPR.
As a first step in September 2017 the Italian Parliament adopted a new legislation that will bring a reduction in slot machines distribution:
This means that the slot machines (AWP type) distributed in Italy will be reduced from 407.000 to 265.000.
However, the above mentioned decrease does not include VLT market which represents the real competitor for land-based casinos in the electronic game segment.
Beyond Italy’s borders the four Italian properties also face competition from Slovenian, Swiss, Austrian and French casinos.
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1625 |
| 2016 | 1722 |
| 2015 | 1786 |
| 2013 | 1898 |
The terrestrial casino sector in Italy remains outside of the supervision of the country’s regulator, the Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS).
Instead, casinos are under the control of the Ministry of Interior and are run by the local authorities in the provinces and municipalities in which they are located.
Casinos’ hours of operation vary across the country and are established by the relevant local authority.
The AAMS is responsible for the regulation of online gambling services.
Players must be at least 18 years of age to gamble in Italy.
In each of the four casinos in Italy, there is an internal commission responsible for all matters relating to player protection.
Additionally, casinos offer information to players about gambling addiction and the treatment services available to problem gamblers.
Casino staff are trained recognise the behaviour that is characteristic of problem gambling.
Italian gambling operators must offer self-exclusion services and ensure that once a player has self-excluded, they are not able to place bets or make deposits into an online account for the established exclusion period.
The list of self-excluded players must be notified to AAMS.
With regards to remote gambling, players must be allowed to establish betting limits and there cannot be default or unlimited values.
Legal Gambling Age: 18 Years Old
Smoking Ban: Yes, but allowed in specific areas.
Terrestrial: Multiple licences, capped at four
Online: Multiple licences, not capped
Terrestrial: Differs by municipality. Authorised games include French roulette, American roulette, blackjack, punto banco, craps and poker variants.
Online: Casino games, including online slots.
Terrestrial: Ministry of Interior for land-based casinos
Online:AAMS
Size of Illegal Gambling Market : The illegal gambling market in Italy is estimated to be worth at least 23bn Euros.
Market Protection Measures / Tools to Tackle Illegal Gambling:Website blocking is permitted in Italy and there are also advertising restrictions in place.
| 2017 | 2030 |
| 2016 | 2135 |
| 2015 | 2210 |
| 2013 | 2340 |
| 2017 | 312 million |
| 2016 | 323 |
| 2015 | 331 million |
| 2014 | 329 million |
| 2013 | 338 million |
Currency : Euro
Population:60,802,080
(Source:The World Bank)
GNI (2014, Local Currency, Millions): 15,83,333
(Source: Eurostat)
Internet Penetration (Internet Users):62%
(Source: The World Bank)
Mobile Penetration (Mobile Cellular Subscriptions): 154%
(Source: The World Bank)
Doing Business Ranking (June 2015):45
(Source: World Bank Group)
Last Updated: May 2019
