Bar Slots in the 2000s: AAMS Regulation Arrives — AWP, NewSlot and VLT
The 2000s revolutionize bar slots: the AWP system (2004), the NewSlot network with transponders, the PREU tax, and in 2010 the VLT terminals. How AAMS regulation transformed the sector.
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The 2000s are the decade of the regulatory turning point for Italian bar slots: from the regulatory chaos of the 1990s to the creation of the official AWP system, from the NewSlot network to the introduction of VLTs in 2010. A decade that transformed the sector radically — and not without contradictions.
Law 289/2002: The Starting Point
The path toward regulation began with Law 289/2002 (2003 Budget Law), which delegated to AAMS the creation of an organic control system over gaming machines. Before this law, every municipality could apply different rules, machines circulated without central type-approval, and the tax authority had no effective verification tools.
The law established the basic principles:
- Gaming machines must be type-approved by the State
- They must comply with stake and win limits defined by law
- They must guarantee a certified minimum RTP
- Proceeds are subject to the state levy (PREU)
2004: The AWP and the NewSlot Network Are Born
The Ministerial Decree of 12 March 2004 formally established the AWP — Amusement With Prizes category with technical specifications still in force (updated over time):
| Parameter | 2004 value | Current value |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum stake per play | € 0.50 | € 1.00 |
| Maximum win per play | € 100 | € 100 |
| Minimum guaranteed RTP | 75% | 85% |
| Minimum duration of a game | 4 seconds | 4 seconds |
| Mandatory network | Yes (NewSlot) | Yes (ADM network) |
The parameters have been updated several times. The maximum stake value went from €0.50 to €1 in 2010, then reduced and modified again in 2016.
The Transponder and Real-Time Control
Every approved AWP must be equipped with a transponder — a hardware device that communicates in real time with the AAMS network. The transponder transmits:
- Progressive number of plays
- Total credits inserted (coin in)
- Total wins paid out (coin out)
- Any anomalies or tampering attempts
- Machine identification data (serial number)
The system guarantees the State the automatic calculation of the PREU — the single state levy on plays. It is not possible to "declare" less than the actual amount: the network records everything independently of the operator.
The Sector's Adaptation
The transition to the AWP system required significant investment from concessionaires: every non-approved machine had to be replaced or upgraded. Many 1990s machines were withdrawn from the market — too expensive to upgrade, impossible to keep without type-approval.
The market consolidated: small local operators were partly replaced by larger concessionaires able to handle the type-approval procedures and the network connection. Large groups emerged such as Lottomatica (later GTECH), Sisal, and others that obtained national concessions.
The Peak: 2008-2012
Paradoxically, regulation did not slow growth — on the contrary. With legal certainty, the sector exploded: the number of active AWPs reached the historical peak of about 400,000 machines in 2010-2012. Tax revenues from slot machines became a significant item in the state budget.
2010: The VLTs Arrive
In 2010, alongside the AWPs, AAMS introduced a second category: the VLT — Video Lottery Terminal. These are much more advanced digital gaming terminals, with completely different characteristics:
- Present only in dedicated VLT halls (not in ordinary bars)
- Stake: from €0.50 to €10 per play
- Maximum win: up to €500 per play (without the fixed €100 limit like AWPs)
- Network jackpot: pool across multiple machines on the same network
- Advanced graphics: high-definition touch screens
- Mandatory real-time connection (like AWPs)
VLTs capture a different audience compared to bar AWPs. The distinction between the two categories is fundamental and often ignored in public debate.
End of the Decade: The First Signs of Restriction
Toward 2010-2012 the first political discussions on restrictions began. The widespread penetration of the machines, the epidemiological data on problem gambling and the pressure from anti-gambling movements began to produce the first restrictive measures — which would materialize more markedly in 2016 and in the Dignity Decree of 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NewSlot and when was it created?
What is the PREU and how does it work?
What changes for the player with AAMS regulation?
When did VLTs arrive in Italy?
How many AWPs were active in Italy in the 2000s?
Responsible Gambling
Online gambling should be a form of entertainment, not a source of income. If you feel gambling is becoming a problem, free support resources are available:
- ADM — Responsible Gambling
- GiocoHelpline freephone: 800 558822 (free, 24/7)
- Every ADM casino offers self-exclusion tools, deposit limits and reality-check reminders of time played.
