From Rome to the UK: a comparative analysis of gambling Impact
To advance a thriving sector like gambling, collaboration and alignment of objectives among industry businesses are crucial. It’s with this in mind that a sector forum has been established in the UK. Its goal is to bring together various representatives from the industry to collate information and make proposals to the Gambling Commission.
“This is a prime example of how, to look towards the future of gambling, communication and teamwork are essential”, says Silvia Urso from Giochidislots. By organizing debate and discussion opportunities like the recent Acadi Forum, “Public Gambling’s Challenge to Sustainability”, which took place in Rome just a few days ago, the importance of the public gambling sector in Italy was reiterated and its significant role in the country’s economy was emphasized. During this event organized by the Association of Public Gambling Concessionaires, the 2022 Sustainability Report was presented. It highlighted that last year, gambling contributed approximately 11.2 billion euros to the Italian state’s coffers.
The numbers from the UK are also staggering. According to recent reports from the UK Gambling Commission, as of March 2023, slot machines alone garnered nearly 7 billion pounds. Other notable figures include betting, amounting to 376 million pounds, and poker, which has seen resurgence post-pandemic with over 76 million pounds in turnover. “That’s why it’s crucial to listen to industry opinions to plan the future,” continues Silvia Urso, “to understand the next steps necessary for ongoing growth”.
The UK’s gambling industry forum will also include participation from the Lived Experience Advisory Panel, the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling, and the Digital Advisory Panel. “All of this provides invaluable insights from various perspectives on gambling and its regulation,” explained the president of the Commission, Marcus Boyle.
This forum also needs to consider the job sector and the safeguarding of employment within the industry. “The Italian forum by Acadi highlighted that the supply chain employs 150,000 people across over 85,000 outlets, but the UK market is not far behind,” further explains Silvia Urso. Data from the Betting and Gaming Council indicates over 120,000 workers, with a treasury intake of 4.5 billion pounds. However, these figures are projected to rise, according to estimates by Michael Dughere, CEO of the GBC, explaining that gambling will generate an additional 15,000 jobs in the coming years.
In conclusion, a strong wind is blowing over the global economy, driven by the gambling sector. This momentum should not be halted but rather guided and directed through initiatives like the industry forums, ensuring preparedness for future challenges.
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