(Post published in Italian also)
As it had been stated by the Stability Law, the ADM published on January 15th the Specification for betting collection, which should be subscribed not later than February 28th 2015 by operators that want to regularize their position (“subjects that offer in whatever way betting with money prize in Italy, on their own or on behalf of third parties, even foreign ones, without connection to the national ADM’s system”).
The Specification clarifies some aspects of the regularisation that were already partially anticipated by the ADM in informal meetings held after publication on January 5th of the “Form” subjects must fill and submit not later than January 31th to apply for regularization.
Based on bookmakers without concession reactions, it seems unlikely concern expressed after the publication of the Stability Law can change, unless further unexpected innovations or, at least, clarifications and reassurances are provided by the ADM.
The Specification provides two alternative models. Single CTD is allowed to become an “additional point of sale” belonging to the network of a current Concessionaire, undertaking functions analogous to those assigned to its current bet shops. In this case anyway it will be the CTD to sign the specification, unlike point of sales assigned by previous betting concession tenders.
It seems a significant but minority share of existing CTDs intend to join this Model, leaving foreign bookmaker they are currently working with. Most of those CTDs do not presumably belong to major and well-established networks. This Model would let current Concessionaires to expand low cost their networks. Rumours say some major concessionaires are defining a relevant number of agreements.
Second Model lets bookmaker (but also each individual CTD that want to book betting directly) to exercise betting collection by its network of affiliate shops, in compliance with rules identical to those in force for existing concessionaires.
Specification for that Model is quite identical to the agreement signed by 2012’s betting concessionaires. The bookmaker that intend to join must hold all requirements and will be subdued to all obligations provided for current concessionaires. Technical rules are identical as well, apart of minimum requirements and equipment requested to the point of sales that CTDs are instead exempted from.
Operator that joins the Specification can connect directly to the Sogei national system, on condition that it has at least 50 point of sale, otherwise it is obliged to use a Connectivity Service Provider (FSC) enabled to transport data to Sogei, as for current concessionaires. It had been taken account of the technical complexity of the project for the connection of a large number of bookshops to the Sogei’s system. The bookmaker that joins the procedure will have up to one year from the subscription date to fully activate its network of point of sales.
Authorisation of point of sales is in any case subdued to the grant of the licence provided by article 88 of TULPS, by the competent Police Office.
The Specification clarifies the Government and the ADM really want foreign bookmakers and their integrated networks enter and become compliant with the regulated Italian system, but success of their initiative remains doubtful.
Taking into consideration this is their genuine objective, to avoid a failure it would be desirable further effort, aiming to provide reassurance and to remove obstacles on problem issues that has been declared by main bookmakers, also through the press. The dialogue repeatedly requested by some major operator could be in the State interest also. But there is very little time.
We will deep above-mentioned problem issues in a subsequent post, also in the face of forthcoming publication, on February 22th, of the judgement of the European Supreme Court concerning possible discriminatory profiles of the 2012’s betting tender.
