PwC: Slot machines and fixed – odds bets bring EUR 700 mln to Romania’s economy

Slot machines and fixed-odds betting generated over EUR 700 million to Romania’s Gross Domestic Products GDP, as well as EUR 333 million in budget revenues and taxes in 2012, according to a study by PwC in Romania. The amounts generated to Romania’s GDP include direct and indirect amounts, and created around 38,500 jobs, the study reveals. Romania's GDP stood at some EUR 190 billion in 2013. These segments of the gambling industry have a significant impact over the Romanian economy, despite a decrease in this market segment, said Bogdan Belciu, partner with PwC’s Management Consultancy Services Division, who coordinated the study. The slot machines market in Romania was estimated at some EUR 450 million in 2012, but Romania is below the European average on the number of slot machines and revenues from this activity per inhabitant. The gross revenue from slot machines /capita was of EUR 21 in Romania in 2011, while the European average was of EUR 36 per capita. In Romania, the bulk of the market is made of dedicated slot machine halls – with over 15 machines each, which generate around half of the market. Bars and small locations with three to five slot machines installed cover a third of the market, while betting agencies bring 16 percent of the slot machines market segment. The fixed-odds betting market was estimated at EUR 130 million in 2012, with 2,600 betting agencies across Romania contributing to this amount. This segment generated EUR 141 million directly and indirectly to the state budget in 2012, and created 11,500 jobs, as well contributed EUR 80 million to the state budget. editor@romania-insider.com