There are now only a few weeks left before the publication of the draft of the next Budget Maneuver and the climate is already heating up. As for many years now, the development of the plan of financial measures decided by the government does not fail to reserve some surprises for the gaming sector. Beyond the speculation on the content of the implementing decrees which between now and the next two years will determine the fate of the reorganization for the public gaming sector, the real priority (at the moment) remains that of making ends meet. And the accounts, unless able to find 5 billion from cuts or an increase in some taxes, do not leave ample room for manoeuvre.
Let's start from the fact that games represent, with over 11 billion in tax revenue in 2022, one of the most important items between direct and indirect taxes. In fact, games and bets guarantee the equivalent of registration taxes between indirect taxes and more than half of excise duties. In the last year they have seen an increase ranging from 76% to 28% for lotteries compared to the previous year.
In 2022, gaming revenues recorded a significant increase (2,8 billion), following the increase in gross collections of 136,0 billion, with an increase of almost 25 billion (+22 percent); the winnings, on the other hand, correspond to a share of 85 percent of the total collection. The net tax yield (tax revenues/net funding) recorded a progressive increase from 2018 (including the years of the pandemic crisis) settling in 2022 at 55,2% (highest value ever achieved).
Among the gaming offerings with the highest net revenue yield we find gaming machines (64,7%) and number contests (61,3%).
According to the latest data provided by the Customs and Monopolies Agency, 256 valid operating authorizations have been issued for AWP devices and rights to install approximately 61 devices, of which approximately 31 actually installed in the dedicated rooms as at 2022 December 54 . As regards taxation, during the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, the PREU underwent numerous increases up to 24% tax on collection for AWPs and 8,6% for video lotteries.
In all likelihood, as has already happened on many other occasions, during the discussion of the Budget Maneuver, there will be proposals to increase the tax levy on gaming machines which, given the current taxation, would be unsustainable. On the technical table, at the moment there seems to be the possibility of making the budgeting of the revenues of the tender for online concessions coincide with the publication of the Maneuver. Other interventions, especially on the gaming offer distribution system, would be at least risky. Provided you don't want to question the accounts. (in the photo the minister G.Giorgetti and the deputy minister M.Leo)
