Italian Finance Ministry’s Proposal to Overhaul Online Gambling Legislation Last updated
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will receive the Budget Law for 2024 and the full text of the preliminary decree, according to the ministry.
Italian Online Gambling Laws are Being Revised by the Finance Ministry
There are rumors that the Italian Ministry of Finance is going to release a draft decree of amendments that calls for a review of the nation's laws governing online gambling. This would be the first investigation of the sector since 2011 when online gambling became legal.
The proposed decree would implement new anti-illegal gambling measures along with changes to the licensing fees and concessions currently offered by online casinos. According to a new model put forth by the Ministry of Finance, online gambling concessions would cost €7 million, which is 20 times more than what operators would typically pay under the current model.
Italy's New Online Gambling Law: Tighter Rules and Increased Monitoring
Only five licenses could be held by any one operational business. This is to put an end to the practice—which the ADM has criticized—of several skin websites selling the goods of a single concessionaire. A yearly time adjustment fee equivalent to 2% of gross sales made online could be imposed by the government. The decree does not currently call for any changes to taxes.
In addition, the decree will recommend the establishment of a Public Gambling Council to monitor gaming and offer safety recommendations. To help put an end to illegal gambling, government organizations would have to enforce stricter regulations.
The prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, will receive the complete text of the preliminary decree, according to the ministry, as part of the Budget Law for 2024.
Italy's Gambling Reforms and Concerns About the Black Market
In addition to reviewing online gambling, Italy is currently implementing changes to the way land-based gambling is conducted in the nation. This involves standardizing the regulations across various domains.
After learning of activities in the illegal market, the European Gaming & Betting Association (EGBA) has also requested that Italy reevaluate its prohibition on gambling advertisements. The call was prompted by claims made by the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport that Italians wager roughly €25 billion annually with unlicensed individuals. It was thought that €18.5bn of the total amount spent went to gambling websites that were not licensed.
