In the last days press launches by all Italian specialised agencies published Deputy Binetti statement regarding bill on “prevention, care and rehabilitation of gambling addiction”. Mrs Binetti, coordinator for the bill assigned to Commission for Social Affairs at the Chamber of Deputies, informed that revision of the base-text, prepared last December by a restricted committee and then presented in a conference at the Deputies Chamber, is now close to be completed. She reported, among other aspects, Commission approved a provision that states a total ban of gambling advertising, adopting the model used on tobacco.
Gambling operators that were reassured last February by the so called Fiscal Delegation law that, among many other assignments, requests to the Government preparation of provision to limit gambling advertising in compliance with principles stated at European level, could now feel betrayed by this different provision.
It should be noted the Binetti’s text approved by the Commission is not much different from the base-text known since last December, although limitation measures, which are not just about advertising, had been now made more tight. For advertising it states: “Gambling advertising, direct and indirect, is forbidden on the national territory.” (art. 10 par. 1), which differs from the base-text only for the added words “direct and indirect”.
What is more worrying is that the draft-law shows a substantial ignorance of remote gambling by Commission members. The text does not deal with remote gambling specifically, but it simply applies to it measures defined for slot machines (AWP/VLT).
Binetti’s bill largely overlaps decrees delegated to Government that are to be adopted according to the Fiscal Delegation law (see our previous posts). The political forces that pursue the two bills have different orientation and objectives on gambling. Preparation of delegated decrees is assigned to Economy and Finance Ministry, which has always been the point of reference of gambling operators’ associations. On the other side, the Commission for Social Affairs at the Deputy Chamber has developed a very rigid view on gambling under the influence of the third sector associations that are hostile towards gambling. This bill is considered by them the completion of the project started with the “Balduzzi” law that introduced the first restrictions to gambling advertising starting from January 1st 2013.
A race is on between the two legislative initiatives. Progress of delegated decrees has been slow during last months, while the Social Affairs Commission has speeded up its activity and could soon be able to take the text to the Deputy Chamber discussion. On the other side, recently MEF vice-Minister Casero informed that a first decree regarding review of taxation and definition of future concession / authorisation model could be issued within July. Those are issues that are not in competition because outside the Binetti’s bill scope. Mr Casero added he believes decree on further issues including measures for minors and vulnerable people protection could be ready at the end of the year. He also admitted discussion of that provision should involve Commissions responsible for other matters than finance and tax, like Social Affairs.
The process the Binetti’s bill being made law is still long. The text approved by the Social Affairs Commission would be discussed, possibly amended and approved by the Deputy Chamber, than it would be forwarded to the Social Affairs Commission at the Senate, which has a less hard-line attitude towards gambling than the homologous Commission at the Deputy Chamber and it could propose amendments. Then the text will be discussed at the Senate. There should be any amendments the draft would be submitted to the Chamber approval again, and so on.
Concreteness of Binetti’s bill and efficiency of its promoters had been probably underestimated until now. It had been taken for granted that the reorganisation of gambling sector would have been performed by the delegated decrees under the lead of Economy and Finance Ministry also on issues regarding minors and vulnerable people protection.
It must be now taken into account of all the forces at play and performing strong and transparent information and lobbying action also towards the political forces that hold an hard-line against gambling and have never listened to operators reasons. This is essential to avoid the risk of irreparable damage to the industry for the advantage of illegal gambling more than for the benefit of minors and vulnerable people.
