Central Europe
Economica Report: NOVOMATIC Contributed About 2.1 Billion Euros to the Austrian Economy in Recent Years
NOVOMATIC’s Economic Footprint is significant at both macroeconomic and regional levels. The enterprise contributes substantially to economic output, value-added, employment and taxes in Austria.
Austria’s leading private economic research institute, Economica, has calculated the macroeconomic importance of the NOVOMATIC group for Austria using empirical economic research methodology to analyse economic relationships. The results show that NOVOMATIC continues to make a significant contribution to the local economy on a consistent and continual basis.
In 2022, the NOVOMATIC Group directly generated almost a half billion euros in gross value-added. The total aggregate value-added effect even adds to over 700 million euros. In the period from 2019 to 2022, NOVOMATIC’s domestic value-added including the domestic upstream supply chain network – in spite of challenges associated with the coronavirus pandemic – came to a total of approximately 2.1 billion euros.
One out of every 570 euros in Austria
This means that one out of every 570 euros of value-added generated in Austria in 2022 was directly or indirectly attributable to NOVOMATIC. The company’s location in Lower Austria means that this state benefits even more from the economic strength of this leading Austrian company.
“Our value creation analysis shows that one in every 150 euros in Lower Austria is generated in connection with NOVOMATIC,” explains study author DI Helmut Berrer.
High impact on employment
Also in 2022, NOVOMATIC had approximately 3100 employees in Austria. Due to the purchase of upstream services, almost 2700 additional jobs are secured or created in Austrian supplier companies along the value chain.
In addition, the wages and salaries paid by NOVOMATIC and its affiliated companies, which are well above the Austrian average for employees, make a significant contribution to the country’s prosperity, totaling about 260 million euros per year.
“This shows the great importance of NOVOMATIC as a national and regional employer, since the company secures a total of almost 6000 jobs in Austria,” said Mag. Stefan Krenn, authorised representative of NOVOMATIC AG.
Tax revenue higher than tourism tax
Due to its strong economic performance and large workforce, NOVOMATIC is one of the largest payers of taxes and social security contributions in Austria. The total government revenue generated by NOVOMATIC amounted to 266 million euros in 2022, exceeding for example the total volume of Austria’s tourism tax.
Forward-looking investments in research and development
Significant investments are made each year in research and development to ensure that this positive development continues in the future. This high level of investment is also reflected in the registration of numerous intellectual property rights. In total, the company holds more than 5000 patents and trademarks.
Central Europe
Buying Games as Downloads is More Popular Than Ever in Germany
The share of PC and console games purchased as downloads in Germany climbed to 60% for the first time in 2023, meaning that download purchases have remained at the same high level they reached during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Back then, the share of downloads jumped from 45 to 58%. These figures were published by game – The German Games Industry Association, in cooperation with market research company CPS GfK. A closer look at the individual gaming platforms, though, shows there are huge differences between them. Download purchases are most popular among PC players; these days, they buy nearly all of their games – 98% – as downloads. Last year, that figure was already 97%. Consoles are a different story, though. Most console players prefer to buy games on physical media. The majority of console games – 60% – are still purchased as physical media, even though that figure has dropped by 3% points compared to last year.
The way in which video game players purchase games is also a question of age. The younger generation of players in Germany overwhelmingly opt for downloads. And this trend is particularly strong among players between the ages of 20 and 29: they buy more than 7 out of 10 PC or console games (71%) in this format. But these days, growing numbers of older players are starting to prefer downloads, as well. Among 50- to 59-year-olds, approximately 6 out of 10 games (59%) are purchased as downloads; last year, this group bought about 53% of their games on physical media. Physical copies are most popular among the over-60s. In 2023, they bought more than half their games (53%) on physical media. However, this figure also represented a decline of 12% points in sales of physical media among this group.
“We’re seeing a clear trend: downloads are becoming an established way of buying games, and their share of the games market is continually increasing, even though that growth has slowed a bit since the pandemic. For many people, downloads are a quick and convenient way to buy games. Last year, a number of big blockbuster games, like ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ and ‘Alan Wake II’, were initially released as digital exclusives. Plenty of successful indie games have been download-only for ages, as well. All these factors have given the popularity of downloads a massive boost. But how games are purchased still varies according to the age of the player and the type of platform. Video game players primarily buy their console games on physical media, to get the limited editions and fan merchandise that come with them, or to ensure that they always have a copy of the game in their collection,” Felix Falk, Managing Director of game, said.
The post Buying Games as Downloads is More Popular Than Ever in Germany appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Central Europe
Slower workforce growth and fewer new companies: the upward trend in the German games industry is weakening
The post Slower workforce growth and fewer new companies: the upward trend in the German games industry is weakening appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Central Europe
OKTO.CASH expands in Germany with bet-at-home go-live
OKTO announced the launch of its advanced cash-to-digital payment solution, OKTO.CASH with bet-at-home, a renowned and established operator in the German iGaming market. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for OKTO, expanding its footprint in Germany and further solidifying its reputation as an innovator in cash-to-digital solutions for iGaming enthusiasts.
OKTO.CASH offers bet-at-home users a hassle-free way to consume iGaming services with cash in real-time. Leveraging OKTO‘s always growing network of over 14,000 points of sale across Germany, including well-known brands such as Aral, Deutsche Post, Esso, Kiosk, Lotto, Shell, and many others, users can effortlessly convert physical cash into digital currency. This streamlined process provides a secure, fast, and easy-to-use top-up method that caters to the preferences of the market.
Richard Greslehner, Head of Product at bet-at-home Internet Ltd commented: “This partnership underscores our dedication to delivering cutting-edge and convenient payment solutions for our customers. With OKTO.CASH, users can now seamlessly deposit their physical cash into their online bet-at-home accounts at their favourite everyday stores.”
“We are thrilled to partner with bet-at-Home for the launch of OKTO.CASH in Germany,” said Mikhail Ovsepyan, Head of Germany at OKTO. “This collaboration underlines our dedication to expanding our presence in the German market and delivering cutting-edge payment solutions that meet the needs of iGaming enthusiasts. We look forward to revolutionizing the gaming payment experience and providing unparalleled convenience and security to users.”
OKTO‘s expansion in the German region follows the approval of both OKTO.WALLET and OKTO.CASH by the German Gaming License Authority (GGL) last year. Embedded into the merchant’s app or website, OKTO.CASH provides users with the fastest and most direct method to upload cash online, eliminating the need for third-party apps. Users can select OKTO.CASH as their payment method, choose the deposit amount, and select the nearest location from over 14,000 points to top up their accounts safely and in real-time.
The post OKTO.CASH expands in Germany with bet-at-home go-live appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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