Italy’s overall sports betting revenue totaled €852 million during the seven months ended July 31, Agimeg reports. That figure represented a 43.3% increase from the same period of 2017. The rise was, to an extent, due to the month-long FIFA World Cup. The major football championship took place from June 14 to July 15 and saw record betting volumes around the world.
Naples was the province to top the revenue chart with €71.4 million generated in revenue during the seven months ended July 31. In Rome and the surrounding area, the amount of €39.2 million was generated in revenue. Milan rounded out the podium with total bets of €139.6 million and revenue of €26.3 million.
The government collected the total amount of €168 million in taxes from sports betting revenue during the first seven months of the year. That figure is expected to drop significantly once the recently approved ban on all forms of gambling advertising takes effect.
The so-called Dignity Decree, introduced by Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio in May, quickly gained foothold to eventually pass the Italian legislature. Among other provisions, the legislative piece contained a proposal for a blanket ban on all forms of gambling advertising across all channels, including print, radio, television, and the Internet.
The scope of the ban is unprecedented in Europe and Minister Di Maio has advised other jurisdictions to follow suit. The new regime is set to come into force on January 1, 2019.
Source: GMB / Casino News Daily
