“More than 3.000 citizens were interviewed by SWG to understand attitudes towards gambling. Of these, 400 are asked what they did and how much they spent. We were struck by the difficulty of operators in understanding the perceived expenditure, beyond the actual collection from the data of the Customs and Monopolies Agency. This real data is used to understand what mechanisms are triggered in people's minds", is what he said Riccardo Grassi, SWG researcher presenting the latest update of the research “Playing like adults”.
“80% of players play GrattaeVinci and SuperEnalotto. Following Lotto and Betting. 46 of them placed bets online. Games on online platforms involved more than 30% of the sample. It is therefore a very varied picture. The game, we understood, is a constant. 7% of people play only online, 33% only play 'physical' games, over 50% in both modes. The typologies remain very stable, there is a very imperceptible increase, 0,8% in online gaming. The perceived amount of spending is 26,5 euros per month for the game. A figure in line with the average consumption. Around 18% of players say they spend around 20 euros a month, but think they will win more, around 150 euros for every 100 euros played and received. The data shows us that an increase in gambling habits increases economic risk. 23% say they won more than they spent, 76% admit they lost money. The expenditure perceived by type of game is very different, with the characteristics and psychology of the player influencing the data", specified Grassi.
“In Italy there are approximately 22,3 million players. The estimate of the collected revenue for every 100 euros played, the balance between outlay and profit is around 14 euros, in the players' revenue it is much higher: over 23 euros. In the player's perception the expense is higher than that calculated from the official data.
But do people have fun? It seems so. The majority, over 70%, say they had fun, making entertainment prevail over the idea of winning. 38% of players don't take it for granted that we always have fun, it may not happen in the future, and this is because fun depends on how that type of experience is lived. 40% do not rule out spending less next month.
Players play even if they don't win money.
2 out of 3 play mobile phone apps, many play video games and board games. In digital gaming, 67% play with apps, many spend money to play (around 15 euros per month). Out of the total number of players who spend on playing, less money goes to games with cash winnings than is spent on other games, physical and digital."
SWG's Observatory on public gaming “Playing like adults. Public gaming and other forms of entertainment" is an event format supported by Formiche, SWG and IGT, which has been examining the main aspects of public gaming in empirical terms since 2020.
