CR85-p01-News1:SJC-Casino Review 24/10/09 10:54 Page 1
www.CasinoReview-Online.com • November 2009 • 085
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Hotel casinos the tip
of Italian expansion
Having overseen the
world over, the legislation year Austrian operator and
expansion of several
granting the introduction of an manufacturer Novomatic
estimated 50,000 VLTs (Video bought Adria Gaming Interna-
gambling sectors in Lottery Terminals) is the pinna- tional becoming the 80 per
recent months, the
cle of Italy’s expansion. The cent majority owner of Punto
Italian government is
new VLTs to be known as Italbet, which in turn owns
Comma 6b will initially be eight gaming/betting opera-
now considering
launched in the bingo halls and tions featuring sportsbetting
whether the casino
betting shops of the existing and 24 Comma 6a gaming
ten slot operators who will machines per operation as
business should be
have to pay E15,000 for the well as online sportsbetting
next. As Phil
privilege of operating each of and poker on the website
Martin suggests
this new type of machine.
www.zonabet.it.
Machine quotas will be dic- Franco Rota, new President
the five star proposal tated by the size of the venue of Punto Italbet, stated: “The
may not be just pie
with divisions set for 10, 30, experiences in the various
in the sky.
70 and 150 machines. New European countries have
jackpot mechanisms for both shown that the VLT-sector is a
local and wide area progres- very important market
starryeyed sives will also be introduced segment. It is a highly secure
ITALY at caps of E15,000 and form of gaming and at the
E50,000 respectively. same time very attractive to
Italian tourism minister One international slot man- the guest. We expect much
Michela Vittoria Brambilla has ufacturer said: “In our eyes the from the VLTs, even though
proposed that five-star hotels VLT expansion in Italy will we still have to wait for the
should be able to operate prove the biggest single thing regulatory framework. We
‘small casinos’ as part of the to happen to the European hope that the Italian legislator
bill to support tourism and gambling business for at least a will, in his decisions, follow
boost government taxes. decade. We’ve heard estimates suit with the positive example
Although Italy boasts some tor of the Italian hotel federa- it takes from the venue. Split down the middle: Casino that 49,000 to 65,000 machines of other European jurisdic-
254 registered five-star hotels, tion, Federalberghi, said: “Our The new proposal is cer- di Venezia on the Grand Canal could enter the country.” tions.The 30-years experience
the minister emphasised she view would be yes, with reser- tainly radical for a casino sector
in Venice. Opinion in Italy is
The expansion so far adds of the Novomatic Group will
didn’t want ‘a proliferation of vations. There is a risk that it that has so far remained fairly
split on future expansion.
up to a fair bit of competition without doubt be of consider-
casinos’ and that only a few could lead to some dangerous closed off. It has allowed only for the existing casino indus- able benefit; in fac,t I am con-
hotels would currently meet mechanisms, especially those five casinos near the northern has already overseen the expan- try which has been up in arms vinced that it will be a major
the required standards to that have always revolved borders, each positioned to sion of the AWP (Amusement about the new VLTs claiming factor of success in the Italian
qualify. Brambilla has sug- around some casinos.” deter Italian gambling spend With Prize) market through they will further eat into their market. We have made signifi-
gested that whilst tax rev- The body that represents in nearby casinos in France, the development of Comma shrinking revenues unless, of cant investments in Italy, and
enues from the new casinos Italy’s five existing casinos, Switzerland or Slovenia. 6A machines. There are cur- course, they can have a slice the takeover of Punto ItalBet
would fund local councils, Federgioco, is reluctant to take But with the government rently around 350,000 Comma of the action. Two are believed shows that we will place our
some of the earnings would on more competition at this recently seeing how expan- 6 and 6a gaming machines in to be trying to do just that. initial emphasis on betting.
go towards the renovation of time and has asked the minis- sion in various betting sectors operation in Italy by ten autho- Rumours persist that But I can already foreclose that
historic venues such as ter to defer the opening of equates to greater govern- rised concession holders. Casinò di Venezia is planning Novomatic will invest over
Taormina in Sicily. new venues for the time being. ment spending, approval of He has also given his to open six ‘small’ venues with the 360 degrees of the Italian
The idea has so far received As everywhere, the casinos Brambilla’s Bill, which has backing to the online poker Cortina, in the north of the market including the online
a positive if somewhat cau- are suffering the effects of the already been put before the sector, which he hopes will be Veneto region, and on the Isle gaming sector. We will also
tious response from hotel recession, with even Casinò di Council of Ministers, could be worth E400m within 12 of Capri, already mentioned. put one major focus on the
owners. Venezia being forced to ask politically achievable. months of operation. Foreign operators are also new opportunities that are
Alessandro Cianelli, direc- the city to reduce the amount Prime Minister Berlusconi For slot companies the getting involved. In May this opening up in this segment.”
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