Italy’s sports betting operators started 2019 off on the wrong foot, as January’s betting revenue fell by one-sixth year-on-year.

Figures released by Italy’s Agenzia della Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) regulatory body show Italian-licensed sports betting revenue totaling €124.6m in January, a 17.2% decline from January 2018’s €150.5m total.

The slowdown was primarily due to Italy’s Serie A football league staging its winter break in January rather than December. And January’s total was not only greater than December 2018’s result, the rate of decline was significantly better than December’s 55% year-on-year insult.

January’s online betting revenue was down only 4.4% to €58.1m, and UK operator Bet365’s Italian site retained its place atop the revenue throne with a nearly 18% share of the online betting market. Runner-up SKS365 slipped a few points with a 12.8% share, while Playtech’s Snaitech brand ranked third with 11%.