President Cangianelli: "Our proposals are based on new rules to avoid benefiting only some distribution channels, updated tax policies in step with consumption dynamics, digitalisation of theaters and renewal of the role of exhibitors"
"The Government's particular attention towards new early regulation of online gaming is certainly explained by the explosion of this distribution channel and the incorrect presumption that it is not related to the physical network. The data shows a different reality, with over 35% of online games, therefore more than 1 in 3, generated by active accounts at points of sale in the area. The size of cash top-ups on online gaming accounts is even larger. These are important numbers, which must also be considered with a view to preventing pathological addictions." Thus Emmanuel Cangianelli (in the picture), President of EGP-FIPE, National Trade Organization of FIPE, Italian Federation of Public Businesses of Confcommercio-Imprese for Italy, spoke on the occasion of Enada 2024, one of the main European fairs dedicated to gaming.
Further demonstration of how central the physical network is comes from the economic analysis of the market over the last year. In the 2023 were spent on regulated gaming (not being able to account for illegal gaming) approximately 20,9 billion euros: 10,4 in gaming machines, betting, bingo in points of sale, 6,1 in number games and lotteries, 4,4 in online games. This expense generated approx 10,8 billion in tax revenue (57% machines, betting and bingo, 32% numerical games and lotteries, 11% online games); approximately a further billion euros derives from the taxation of players' winnings, also in this case mainly generated in points of sale.
"The data on economic performance and related considerations clarify how the regulation of the various networks of licensed gaming outlets is undoubtedly the "strongest piece" of the task that Parliament has entrusted to the Government. Also because it affects a supply chain of around 140.000 people out of 150.000 total employees in the sector", adds the President of EGP-FIPE.
“To avoid, therefore, acting in a partial manner, the dialogue initiated with the Legislator is based on precise proposals. First of all, a more marked distinction is needed between rules for gaming in stores and online gaming, to better protect consumers from the pervasiveness of irregular or illegal offers, which mainly creep in from online channels. As regards the offer in the points of sale, the updating of the product and tax policies of the sector is needed; the latter, in fact, are difficult to reconcile with the new consumption dynamics. It is necessary to offer returns in winnings capable of guaranteeing entertainment for all public games offered in bars, tobacconists and specialized rooms, with the differences necessary for the different functions of these places and attention not to still favor undue competitive advantages of products or distribution channels on others. For this reason, we propose to regulators the updating of the collection methods on some games and the planning of new organizational methods of the offer in physical points, which will have to focus on digitalisation and strengthening the responsibilities of operators. Those described are lines of innovation that cannot be postponed in order to maintain the perimeter of legality achieved, protect consumers and consolidate the sector also from an economic point of view, in the interests of the treasury and of companies that want to continue investing in the concession system", concludes Cangianelli.
The Italian scenario
Enada 2024 is also an opportunity to take stock of the network currently active in Italy, both in terms of specialized rooms and public establishments with gaming offers. There are a total of 4.668 specialized rooms for public games, and are the rooms for playing bingo, the betting rooms (or shops) and the rooms dedicated to entertainment machines, in which access to minors is prohibited. The greatest number of points is in Lombardia e Campania (respectively 669 e 666, in both cases just over 14% of the total), followed by Lazio and from Piemonte (respectively 438 e 425, in both cases just over 9% of the total). Public establishments which have a main activity other than the offering of public games but which offer them as a secondary activity (amusement machines and betting corners,
different from lottery product outlets; more recently, online game top-up services are also available mainly bars and other catering establishments and games rooms, and there are in total 32.973. Again the concentration of these exercises is prevalent in Lombardia (5.525 points, almost 17% of the total) followed by Campania (3.336 points, approximately 10% of the total), from Lazio (2.783 points – 8,4% of the total) and from Veneto (2.738 – 8,3% of the total).
