“We presented ourselves at ENADA as a renewed brand, with a position of absolute importance in the current market, a result that summarizes the important path of growth and development already taking place inside and outside the company. The most obvious sign of this journey is precisely in our new identity: a precise and conscious image, both from the point of view of the brand and the offer, and from a more corporate point of view, linked above all to the compliance and social aspects responsibility,” Gaziano affirmed.

“Added to this is also the digital offer, to which the homonymous area inside the stand was reserved, with live demonstrations and the possibility of discovering the functionality of the Planetwin365 app, recently renewed in the interface and usability. In addition, the Fun area, with live performances and virtual challenges, and the Retail area where the offer available in over 800 stores throughout Italy was reproduced,” He added.

He then gave his impression on the 31^st edition of the show:“It is no mystery that this edition of the ENADA, the most important national gaming exhibition, comes at a time of general uncertainty, caused by the expectation of the Government's actions to regulate the market in Italy. For this reason it was important for us to transmit the image of a solid, reliable and safe company, with a varied product offer and competitive. A goal that we believe fully satisfied especially for the excellent response of the public during all three days, a decidedly positive balance.”

When asked about the plans for 2019, he said that, despite all the challenges they think that it will be a great year for Sks and its Planetwin365 brand. “Thanks to our strong retail network, thanks to an improved betting and gaming offering, thanks to a renewed mobile experience we firmly believe that this will be a growth year even without any major summer competition.”

He also commented the current situation of the gaming sector in Italy: “The gaming sector in Italy has often been heavily criticized by the political world and so by media and public opinion. There is a tendency to link gaming just to pathological behavior or criminality, or to economic and social problems. The “good” side of gambling, as pure entertainment, is not considered as something fair. This critical climate makes the environment in which we operate extremely complex. The climate of condemnation and the prohibitionist attitude by the institutions has resulted, particularly in the last year, in a clear desire to burden taxation on everything related to the gaming sector and, yet to be defined, eliminate all forms of communication and promotional message about gaming. The truth is that legal gambling in Italy is strictly controlled and has several barrers to protect under 18 and to favorite responsible and safe gambling behaviour. Italy is at the cutting edge in gambler protection. Prohibition has never brought great results, the single operator can make the difference in customer protection, modifying its approach to the client. The whole industry should change its communication strategies that have to be oriented to customer safety and awareness.”

A major issue is the tax system in Italy, so Gaziano commented about the current situation: “From 1 January 2019, Italian land-based and online gambling incumbents will have to undertake a number of quick adjustments to a new tax reality, as Lega-5Star seeks to collect €700 million in new tax revenues from its latest ‘industry squeeze". The government’s behavior on gambling seems contradictory. They attack it, weaken it with ban and restrictions but, at the same time, they plan to implement the government program with the gambling’s profits. We don’texpect modifications regarding taxes, we hope the Government will return the role of State concessionaire to that of partner in the reorganization of the sector. We are the "experts" of this complex market, which is why we should be more listened to and involved in a constructive dialogue with the legislator.”

During the last edition of Betting on Football (March 19-22), Gaziano was one of the speakers at the conference ‘SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISING - HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?’ to talk about the Italian case.

“Our market is intimately connected to the world of sport. Banning all sorts of synergies with this world evidently hinders the development of projects created to offer the user a gaming experience purely linked to entertainment and passion. Prohibiting the sponsorship of the Italian teams will not sort the desired effect. Sport lovers will continue to see betting brands during the EPL matches or the La Liga matches. The only victim of this ban will be the Italian sport  teams, in particular the Italian football teams, that will lose the income from the Italian sponsors, losing also competitivity against foreign football teams.”