Recently the PREU (unique fiscal authority withdrawal) has changed. For VLT’s it will increase

Limiting our attention on AWP (Comma 6A) and VLT (Comma 6B), the PREU is normally calculated in percentage on the coin-in and this percentage has now changed with a decree published in the official gazette.

VLT's

The current PREU for VLT’s, being 2% of the coin-in but, will increase to 4% from the first of January 2012. To make it even worse for the supply chain, there will be a further increase from the first of January 2013, when the PREU will hit 4.5%.

This is another step in the VLT story. A part of the technical investment for the adaptation of the platform to the Italian rules was paid for by the Licensees.  For each machine they intended to place on the market they paid €15,000 to the Fiscal Authority. After an initial period when the introduction of the VLT seemed to cause a reduction in the number of AWPs, the data collated over a two month period (September 2011 to October 2011) shows the trend has changed and that AWPs are in fact holding their position in the market. The reasons behind this are still under evaluation, but it could be related to the impact of the VLTs on players. The new PREU will probably influence the Licensee gains and postpone the pay-back of all the VLT operation.

AWP's

For AWP’s the current PREU is 12.2% of the coin-in. Even in this case there will be a future change.  From the first of January 2012 the PREU will be 11.8% of the coin-in. The reason for the reduction is to permit the companies involved to prepare themselves for the new technical rules that will come into force from 2013.

From the first of January 2013, the pay-out of the machines will be no less than 74%, currently standing at 75%. Next year, from the first of January 2013 the PREU will be 12.7% to increase again from the first of January 2015 to 13% of the coin-in.

It is clear that the current machines will also be compatible with the 2013 rules. The impact of the new PREU on the companies involved will result in a mass update of all current machines.