Italy’s Gaming Revenue Surges in Q1 2024 Amid Increased Action on Illegal Gambling
Published: September 11, 2024 | Author: Ron Clarke
The Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) has published its statistical bulletin for the first quarter of 2024, revealing insightful data about the performance of Italy’s gaming and gambling sector. The numbers point to sustained growth across several key areas, including entertainment devices, betting, lotteries, and regulatory efforts to curb illegal online gambling. In this article, we take a closer look at the latest figures and compare them to previous years, highlighting trends that define the current state of the industry.
Financial Performance
According to the ADM’s report, the gaming sector in Italy continues to thrive. Here are some of the standout figures for the first quarter of 2024:
- Revenue from Entertainment Devices: €890 million
- Revenue from Betting: €410 million
- Revenue from Lotteries and Numerical Games: €1.21 billion
- Revenue from Other Games: €285 million
In total, the confirmed taxes from gaming activities amounted to an impressive €2.42 billion in Q1 2024. Additionally, administrative fines reached €44.4 million, while tax fines totaled €12.4 million, showcasing a robust collection of revenue from the gaming sector.
The data from Q1 2024 demonstrates a clear upward trend when compared to previous years, particularly in terms of revenue growth. The entertainment devices sector generated €890 million in Q1 2024, an increase from €860 million in Q1 2023, €825 million in Q1 2022, and €780 million in Q1 2021. This steady growth reflects a rise of €30 million from Q1 2023 to Q1 2024 and a total increase of €110 million since Q1 2021.
Betting revenue has also continued its upward trajectory. In Q1 2024, betting generated €410 million, compared to €385 million in Q1 2023, €360 million in Q1 2022, and €320 million in Q1 2021. This shows a year-over-year increase of €25 million from 2023 to 2024 and a notable rise of €90 million since 2021.
Lotteries and numerical games remain significant contributors to the gaming sector. Revenue from this segment reached €1.21 billion in Q1 2024, up from €1.18 billion in Q1 2023, €1.14 billion in Q1 2022, and €1.10 billion in Q1 2021. This reflects a consistent increase, with a €30 million rise from 2023 to 2024 and a total growth of €110 million since 2021.
Enforcement and Regulatory Measures
Aside from financial gains, the ADM’s report also highlights the agency’s ongoing efforts to regulate and monitor the gaming industry, with a particular emphasis on combating illegal online gambling. In Q1 2024, the number of irregular gaming websites blocked rose to 4,444, up from 4,200 in Q1 2023. Additionally, there were 42.4 million attempts to access these blocked websites, compared to 40.2 million in the same period the previous year.
This rise in both blocked websites and access attempts reflects the ADM’s strong commitment to enforcing regulatory measures and protecting Italian players from illegal and unregulated gaming platforms. Their continued vigilance is crucial in maintaining a secure and fair gaming environment.
Industry Outlook
The ADM’s latest report paints a positive picture for the gaming and gambling industry in Italy. With continued growth in revenue and a vigilant regulatory framework, the sector is poised for further expansion in the coming quarters. The increases in betting and entertainment device revenue, alongside the ever-popular lotteries, highlight the resilience and demand within the market.
