Since the last Monopoly’s update, the continuous growth of online gaming has emerged, driven by casino games and virtual slots.
Online gaming sector continues to grow. As it clearly appears from the last update of the data provided by the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli, through the publication of the Libro blu for 2018, the online segment went from a value of the “played” of about €17 billion in 2016 to that of 24.6 billion in 2019.
As is well known, the so-called “casino games” give the greatest boost, with particular regard to the virtual slot machines, which went from a “played” of about 7.1 billion in 2016 to that of over 12.8 billion in 2018. Confirming the strong appeal that this mode of gaming, in its legal form, continues to have on the public, confirming the choice of the legislator to regulate new forms of gaming to remove players from the illegal market, which is also very widespread in Italy.
MORE WINNINGS AND PROCEEDS – However, the winnings for players grow hand in hand with the bets: in 2018 online slots brought over 12.3 billion into the pockets of Italians, compared to about 6.8 billion in 2016 . While the Treasury received approximately 183 million in 2018 against approximately 132 million in 2016.
MORE LEGALITY AND AWARENESS – However, the regulator’s control in the online segment is also growing, as well as player awareness and legality. As clearly appears from the section of the Libro Blu concerning “controls and investigations”. As regards the online, the data reveal that in 2018 the quota of 1042 irregular gaming websites closed by the administration was reached, compared to 207 in 2007 or 580 in 2017. A clear sign of the still very strong proliferation of illegal websites in our country, fought by the activity of the regulator. However, the number of attempts to access such illegal websites registered by ADM shows greater awareness: in 2018, there were “only” about 269 million, compared to over 2.5 billion in 2009 and over 360 million in 2017.
