InterGame takes an in-depth look at Europe’s street market
The European street market is a diverse and multi-faceted sector. There are similarities between jurisdictions but each has its own unique characteristics, meaning no two countries’ gaming markets are exactly alike. It is a sector that in some countries is under threat and yet in others is a vibrant, growing industry.
As a rule, European governments do not favour gaming but, in most cases, choose to regulate such activities rather than prohibit them, knowing that to do the latter would simply fuel illegal gambling. The benefit of tolerance, of course, is that gambling is a taxable activity that boosts state coffers. This has created the somewhat contradictory environment in which governments cannot be seen to actively encourage gambling but are, due to the pressures of the economic downturn, pursuing ways of increasing the tax income they receive from gambling. The approach to this differs. In the case of Bulgaria, the government has simply brought the industry to breaking point with huge tax hikes. In Italy, the government is allowing gaming to expand with the introduction of additional machines in the marketplace.
It is certainly a mixed picture, but those markets in decline are offset by those experiencing new levels of growth and expansion.
“There have been jurisdictions that have performed surprisingly well,” Don Doucet, Spielo International’s vice president of business strategy and development, told InterGame. “Some markets have remained staid and stable, while others have decreased even further in performance. There are signs of recovery and new market opportunities.
“Overall, the European street market continues to weather the world-wide economic storm. While one could cherry-pick markets and highlight contraction, overall the street market has remained prosperous.” There are common challenges affecting the whole of the AWP industry, however, such as the ongoing – or deepening – economic crisis, regulatory changes and smoking bans.
This feature can be read in full in the September 2012 issue of InterGame magazine.
