A major operation to allow Italy’s gaming authority to recoup tens of millions of euro in taxes and fines from the country’s network of unlicensed betting outlets is gathering pace.
Microgame and PokerStars cemented their status as leaders in Italy’s cash and tournament poker markets in 2011, while SNAI continued to dominate the sports betting market.
The introduction of cash poker and casino games last year helped revenues swell and online turnover double despite a decline in tournament poker and sharp falls for some more established products.
An announcement from Italy’s gaming watchdog yesterday regarding virtual games also contained the surprising news that betting exchanges are to be brought within the approved list of betting products.
Italy’s horsemen have stepped up their campaign to secure concessions from ministers in a last ditch effort to halt the dramatic decline in betting turnover on their sport.
As 2011 brings further decline for Italy’s historic land-based casinos, new spending limits as well as increased competition from VLTs and online casinos suggest 2012 will be another year of damage limitation.
A flurry of gambling proposals in Italy could see the launch of 1,000 live poker venues on top of the introduction of virtual gaming and a liberalised betting programme in 2012.
Italian gambling operators are bracing themselves for a raft of New Year tax changes just as official sales figures released at the end of December showed a further slump for bingo and betting firms.
Italy’s horseracing sector is reaching crisis point as betting turnover and race attendances plummet and the parlous state of government finances guarantee even less support from the state in the future.
