Italian growth stunted by poker decline
Italy's online gaming revenues remain flat in 2014 as poker market contracts by 21%
Italy’s online gaming market remained broadly flat during 2014 as strong growth in casino and sportsbook was overshadowed by a 21% decline in poker revenues.
According to figures seen by eGaming Review, gross gaming revenues (GGR) for the Italian market across the 12 months totalled 729m, a marginal increase on the 726m recorded in 2013.
But the growth could have been greater had it not been for a substantial decline in the poker market, where revenues slumped from 238m to 187m.
Poker cash games endured a torrid year as revenues fell 23% to 108m while tournament games fared only slightly better after it contracted by 18% to 79m.
eGR previously reported positive years for both online casino and sportsbook in Italy, with the verticals having posted GGR growth of 9% and 7% respectively.
The 214m of GGR recorded by sportsbook means poker, once the bedrock of Italy’s gaming market, is now third in the pecking order with casino the highest grossing vertical on 258m.
Speaking to eGR, PokerStars head of Italy Marco Trucco partly attributed the dip in poker participation to the recent growth in casino.
“Let’s not forget that poker in Italy enjoyed several years of non-competition from casino games and for quite some time, poker tournaments were the only opportunity to play online and win large pay outs, so we come from a privileged situation,” Trucco said.
Returning the online poker market to growth is set to be one of the regulator’s top priorities for 2015.
AAMS gaming director Francesco Rodano previous told eGR he had held positive discussions with a number of countries, including Spain and the UK, over a potential pooling of liquidity.