Italy’s online casino operators were the market’s standout performers in 2019 as sports betting growth slowed and poker’s decline continued unabated.

Data released this week by Italy’s Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) regulatory body show the country’s sports betting operators generated combined land-based and online revenue of €1.59b in 2019, a 7.4% improvement over 2018’s result. Retail betting was up 3.2% to €867.5m while online betting improved 13.2% to €725.2m.

2019’s betting growth, which was 3.4 points lower than 2018’s 10.8%, came thanks to a phenomenal surge in December’s revenue, which leaped 123% year-on-year to €216m, the best showing of any month last year. While December’s online betting revenue nearly doubled to €91m, retail wagering soared 153% to €125m.

Bet365’s Italian site claimed top online betting honors in December, scoring an impressive 26.7% of turnover and 13.7% of online revenue. Playtech’s Snaitech division ranked second on the revenue chart with a 13.5% share, with SKS365 third with 12.1%.