Italian gambling market continues to thrive

The Italian gambling market continues to thrive, according to new numbers just out from the country’s regulatory body, the AAMS, which cover the period January to April 2009 and show that gambling wagers in Italy rose 10 percent in the first four months of the year to Euro 17.603 billion, with wagers in April alone reaching Euro 4.442 billion. In the comparative period April 2008, wagers were 4.076 billion
According to Reuters business news service, there was continued growth in sports betting and online poker, lotto sales were lower, but scratchcards wagering increased.
Gambling wagers in Italy rose 10 percent in the first four months of the year to 17.603 billion, with gambling group Lottomatica revealing that two thirds of its expected full year earnings will come from Italy. In particular Lottomatica holds the concession for Italy’s Lotto game, Gratta & Vinci scratch cards and is also expanding in sports betting and online poker.
Rival Snia is active in sports betting and runs Italy’s largest horse betting network.
AAMS published a table of Italian gambling wagering by type ( figures in millions of Euros):
Apr09         Mar09       Apr08
Slot machines         2,014        2 064          1,950
Bingo                        105          128            131
Horserace betting      183          194            211
Sports betting            418          411            355
Scratch cards            889          888            790
Lotto                         449          464            483
Online poker              188          182              nil
Superenalotto            196          202            156

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