Gambling in Italy: An Analysis of Regional Habits

Il gioco d’azzardo è un fenomeno molto diffuso in Italia e si estende, geograficamente e culturalmente, da Nord a Sud.

Quotas and Per Capita Collection

One way to analyze gambling in Italy is through odds and per capita collection. Odds represent the amount of bets placed by the population on physical games, excluding online. In recent years, 21 Italian provinces have exceeded one billion euros in bets. This gives us a clear view of the presence of gambling throughout the Italian territory.

Going into more detail, for example, we note that the provinces of Prato, Teramo and Rovigo have the highest per capita rates, with Prato in the lead at 3.707 euros, followed by Teramo at 2.054 euros and Rovigo at 2.042 euros. On the other end of the scale, Agrigento, Crotone and Enna have lower per capita rates, at 846 euros, 839 euros and 623 euros respectively. Tuscany, with Prato in the lead, is the region with the highest per capita collection.

The Rising Phenomenon

In recent years, there has been a general increase in gambling via the Internet, probably also thanks to the presence of new betting sites and best online casinos available in Italy. Online gaming has become a popular alternative to traditional gambling, especially due to its accessibility via smartphones and computers. The pandemic has accelerated this trend, leading to a significant increase in online gaming accounts opened.

According to the Blue Book of the Customs and Monopolies Agency, the total number of online gaming accounts opened in recent years was 4,9 million. Campania registered 17,5% of these accounts, followed by Lombardy at 12,9%, Sicily at 11,3% and Lazio at 10,5%.

The Age Groups Involved

The 18-24 age group seems to be particularly involved in gambling. This age group recorded the highest number of gambling accounts, equal to 1.360.612. Furthermore, the majority of these players are men, representing 84,45% of the total, compared to 15,55% of women.

The example of Campania

To get a clearer idea of ​​the progression with which gambling is growing in our country, let's take a region as an example: Campania. In 2019, the total expenditure in the public gaming sector in Campania was 1,277 billion euros, marking a significant increase compared to the previous year. In 2020, there was an increase of 1,145 billion euros. The total collection was 4,680 million euros, with winnings amounting to 3,403 billion euros.

Prospects for the Future

The gambling sector in Italy is subject to state regulation, which has generated considerable revenues for the government, which amounted to 2021 billion euros in 8,4. These funds represent an important economic resource with significant potential for social reinvestment, enabling the government to finance programs and initiatives for the well-being of society. 

Le Forecasts per il 2024 indicano una continua crescita del settore, con il gioco d’azzardo online che guadagnerà ulteriore terreno. La spesa media annua pro capite per il gioco d’azzardo in Italia è di 517 euro, e nel 2023 il gioco d’azzardo online ha raggiunto una quota di mercato del 16,3%, evidenziando il suo crescente appeal tra i giocatori italiani.

In conclusion, gambling in Italy is a complex and widespread phenomenon, with significant differences between regions. The rise of online is an important trend, while statistics show significant involvement of young adults. Authorities and society are addressing gambling-related challenges and opportunities in an increasingly targeted way, taking into account the various regional realities of the country.