According to figures and information released by the Milan Polytechnic University, for the first time ever online gambling’s growth dynamics have surpassed those of entertainment and show business. This has caused Italy to become the EU’s second biggest market for online gaming, behind the United Kingdom.
The games that nearly monopolised the gamblers’ attention in 2016 were casino games and sports bets, which experienced a 25 % increase in spending. Casino games in particular reached € 439 milion, representing a 43 % market share, while sports betting reached € 350 million (+31 %).
Among the expected developments over the course of 2017, there are preparations for a call for bids to award 120 new long-distance gaming licenses. This operation, which is worth € 24 million overall, should attract new parties.
"This call for bids should redefine the sector’s competitive balance,” explains Samuele Fraternali, senior researcher at the Online Gaming Observatory, "Furthermore, these professionals will have to adhere to the new privacy law in order to protect the bettors even more.”
Source: GMB / Innovategaming.com
