Gambling activity up in Italy

Gambling activity in Italy has seen a rise during last year’s operations as more than 17 million people engaged at least once.

Italy.- According to a study released this week by the Pisa branch of national research council CNR, gambling is on the rise in Italy. While the number has increased significantly in the last few years, activity among teenagers has declined.

The study revealed that at least 17 million people gambled at least once in 2017, up considerably from the 10 million figure that was registered in 2014. ANSA reported that approximately one million people were aged 15-19, down from the 1.4 million people that gambled at least once in 2014. Nevertheless, the number of young people that are vulnerable to gambling addiction was on the rise in the south of Italy.

Last week it was reported that at least 80 online gambling firms passed the initial scrutiny of Italy’s gambling regulator Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM). PokerStars, Videoslots, Lottomatica, bet365 and Luckia are some of the operators that applied for a gaming licence in Italy. Italy’s iGaming market currently features 45 gaming operators that have extended licences after they expired two years ago. Another 47 companies have licences until the end of 2022. If the 80 licences get the necessary approvals, Italy would have a total of 172 licensees.