Interview With Italy's SAPAR Association.
The 388/00 regulation issued in Italy at the beginning of this year has had a negative effect on the country's active amusement market, however, the manufacturers and operators continue to adjust their strategies according to the incomplete regulations. Although the details of the new regulations haven't been accounced yet, the outlines have been set up. Following is a transcript of an interview between Hot Games and the Vice President of the SAPAR association, Mr. Bernardi Eugenio (pictured) and the Secretary, Mr. David Massa (pictured).
Hot Games: Does the 388/00 regulations make any big impact on the amusement industry?
SAPAR: The industry went to a standstill after the new regulations were issued. The new regulations really made a big influence on the industry. Now there are about 250 manufacturers, 5,500 operators, and approximately 80,000 personnel in the industry. There are about 1,300 arcades, 10,000 singal sites and 720,000 machines in the market. Among them, 500,000 machines are gaming machines, 200,000 machines are amusement ones.
Hot Games: Could you please explain the new regulation?
SAPAR: The new regulations divided the amusement products into three types;
1.Crane machine: Insert token to bet; one bet can't be more than 1 Euro; only a gift could be taken as the prize; one play can't be less than 10 seconds; Euro 270 have to be levied annually as the tax for one machine.
2. Video games: Insert cash to bet, one bet can't be more than 0.5 Euro; the max. winning couldn't be more than 20 times betting; Euro 1,800 have to be levied annually as the tax for one machine; video poker games only could be operated till January 1st, 2004.
3. Others: like kiddie rides, 3D. VR, sport games, etc.; Insert coin to bet, one betting couldn't be more than 1 Euro. Euro 144 have to be levied annually as the tax for one machine.
Hot Games: How do the operators feel after the new regulations executed?
SAPAR: The progress of the new regulations is too slow to make the operators comply with it. They have to fill six forms to apply the license. These situations all make the operators complain very often.
Hot Games: Some people have a bad impression on the amusement machines because they are often symbolized as the gambling? Could you please express your opinion about this?
SAPAR: New gaming games issued in the future will create a new revolution. They are not only for the players to win the cash and prize, but also make the player decide when to stop the game. These will change the relationship between the people and machine and the people's thinking about amusement machines.
Hot Games: Could you please talk about the most popular machine in the market now and the one in the future?
SAPAR: The Video Poker is the most popular machine in the market now. Although the old ones only could be operated till January 1st, 2004, we still think they will be the most potential products in the future. And for these machines, the government will make them linked a.s.a.p. in order to manage. Now the Video Games are mostly operated in the bar and casino, and the number of them will be completely controlled in the future.
Hot Games: Both ENADA exhibitions had been famous in Europe a long time ago. How will you keep promoting them in the future?
SAPAR: The SAPAR was established in 1962. There are 2,500 members including arcade operators, manufacturers, importers and exporters in the association. Two ENADA exhibitions are held in the Spring and Autumn seperately. The ENADA Spring has been held for 15 years, which is the second largest-scaled exhibition in Europe; moreover, the foreign exhibitors have increased in this year's event because of the new regulation issued. Under the organization SAPAR's detailed planning, the foreign and local operators could have a good chance to build a good deal and communicate their information at both reputed great events.
Hot Games: Do you have any viewpoint about the Italian amusement market's development in the future?
SAPAR: You could see many amusement machines in our market from Europe, Asia, and America. Actually, many years ago, the Italian operators imported various machines from foreign countries to sell, but the industry has reduced the amount in recent years. Like Video Poker, many local manufacturers produce it by themselves. On the contrary, the imported amount of Crane Machines is gradually rising. The conditions have been completely different. Our manufacturers have improved their R&D and repairing techniques a lot and import the exquisite products they want from worldwide countries. We think the Italian amusement market's prospect will be promising in the future.
This story with thanks to Bernardi Eugenio.
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