Post date: Jan 03, 2013 12:6:28 PM
Once a nation of savers, now Italians are turning to gambling to help survive the economic crisis, with a further one thousand gambling licences up for grabs by the end of January.
ROME, ITALY (JANUARY 3, 2013) (REUTERS) - Italy has become Europe's biggest gambling market and one of the biggest in the world, undermining consumer spending in the euro zone's third-largest economy at a time of severe recession and pushing a mounting number of gambling addicts onto the streets.
At the end of January competition will begin for 1,000 licences to open new gambling arcades, many fear this will increase the amount of people addicted to gambling.In one neighbourhood near the ancient walls of Rome, one can gamble at a slot-machine and bingo parlour in a former cinema, at a bar with chirping video-betting games, at a hall for horse races, at a tobacco shop that sells a dozen varieties of lottery tickets and even at a local post office that sells scratch-and-win cards.
Many say they keep their bets small but are regular gamblers.
"I play once a month" said a woman who didn't want to give her name as she left a bingo hall early in the morning after a quick game. She was clear why she needed to play.
"Because we are poor, the politicians have eaten all our money" she said before rushing off.
Gambling deregulation began in 1992 when Italy was in dire need of fresh tax revenue during an economic crisis much like the one it finds itself in today. It gathered pace under Monti's predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi, when he took power in 2001.
At first the new industry generated welcome state revenue and undercut the illegal gambling market dominated by organised crime, Italy's most destructive economic and social problem.
But revenues have risen only marginally while turnover more than quadrupled since 2001 to 80 billion euros in 2011, and the mob has simply shifted into legal gambling.
Nowadays most people place bets one way or the other, usually paying out small denominations of up to five euro a week.
"I play because I like having the hope that I will win something. Every week I buy a card" said pensioner Mario Gerardo.
Figures show that more people play than ever before, 700,000 Italians are addicted to gambling and the country's 400,000 video slot machines now account for more than half of all betting, according to Eurispes, a Rome-based research institute that studies politics, economics and social issues.
"They play in the hope of a big win, they want a large win, and they do win quite a lot. I have given out quite a few wins of 10,000 euro from here" said a tobacconist owner who sells hundreds of betting cards on a daily basis.
Most people are happy with only small wins.
"I play Superenalotto because I try to win and then I buy a card for one euro and stop, that's enough for me" said one regular customer who says she normally wins something in the month but not normally more than five euros.
Others say it is merely the sense of being a winner that keeps them betting.
"The point is just to win, to win whatever the amount. It's enough just winning. There are people, even if they only win five euro, at that moment they feel like winners" said Antonio after placing a bet on a horse race.
Lawmakers argue that gambling deregulation has gone too far and want more rules, but no one is proposing a dramatic reversal at any time soon and for most Italians it gives them something to hope for.