In 2009, every Italian spent Euros 900 trying to win a fortune

Published: 01 February, 2010

With takings exceeding 53.5 billion euro, the gaming sector has recorded an increase of 12.5% over the 47.5 billion collected in 2008. In fact, last year we spent nearly 900 euro per capita chasing the goddess of fortune, which places us among the top 5 countries in the world for expenditure per capita on gaming. 2009 has been a golden year for the public gaming sector.

According to the owners it is the amusement machines (the so-called newslot that are to be found in bars and various businesses) that have contributed more than 24.8 billion euro. The silver medal goes to scratch and win that has seen takings of more than 9.3 billion, whilst in last place is the Lotto with nearly 6 billion.

Also sports-based gaming has recorded more than satisfactory results, with takings exceeding 4.1 billion euro (great credit must be given to sports betting, but the Totocalcio is now in serious trouble). Numerical games, thanks to the jackpot millionaires of SuperEnalotto and to the “lifelong” prize winnings from Win for Life, have recorded takings of 3.7 billion, while on-line poker, the lead player over the past year, has seen takings of 2.4 billion. The losers are horse racing and bingo with takings down 12% and 9%, respectively. Lombardy is the region where the largest amount of betting has taken place (10.6 billion euro), followed by Lazio (6.3) and then Campania (5.2).

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