The positive performance of the German economy in 2017 reportedly helped the nation’s entire gambling industry to record a 2.1% increase year-on-year in annual aggregated gross gaming revenues to €13.49 billion ($16.01 billion).

According to an April 25 report from local consultancy Goldmedia Strategy Consulting, the most recent results also represent an 8.5% rise from 2015’s figure of €12.43 billion ($14.77 billion) and means that the German gambling market has chalked up some €1billion ($1.18 billion) in additional biennial earnings.

Berlin-headquartered Goldmedia Strategy Consulting reported that its figures incorporated the performance of all of the nation’s lottery, sportsbetting, casino and slot operators and indicated that 2017’s aggregated gross gaming revenues were approximately €300 million ($356 million) higher when compared with the previous twelve-month period.

Goldmedia Strategy Consulting reported that the sportsbetting sector had recorded the largest related bump in annual aggregated gross gaming revenues with its 2017 figure representing a 17% swell year-on-year and a 33% improvement when compared with 2015. The consultancy explained that it only expects this trend to continue due to the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup and the continued presence of numerous ‘dysfunctional regulatory policies’ that are providing the nation’s collection of over 90 operators with ‘favorable operating conditions’.

In terms of Germany’s gaming machine operators, Goldmedia Strategy Consulting reported that the sector had experienced ‘yet another very profitable year’ as aggregated gross gaming revenues for 2017 hit over €7 billion ($8.31 billion). However, it stated that this situation could be about to change due to the imminent arrival of ‘significant structural changes’ including stricter rules on the number of venues as well as new minimum distance regulations.

Finally, Goldmedia Strategy Consulting reported that Germany’s lottery segment did not experience a good 2017 as its aggregated gross gaming revenues fell by 3% year-on-year due to increased competition from Malta-licensed online rivals and lower sales for the Lotto 6Aus49 game.