Ban on advertising, sponsorship and promotional communications for gambling: The Communications Regulator list of concerns to the Government

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On 24 July 2019, the national Communications Authority (‘AGCOM’) has released a Notice to the Government on the Dignity Decree which introduced in 2018 a blanket ban on advertising and sponsorship for gambling in Italy. This Notice starts by AGCOM listing the relevant European and national laws and regulations on gambling advertising, putting into context the … Read more

The unbridgeable gap of the Italian gambling advertising and sponsorship ban

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Article 9 of the so-called Dignity Decree (Decree-Law No. 87, dated 12 July 2018, converted with amendments by Law No. 96 of 9 August 2018) prohibits advertising, sponsorship and all other forms of communications with promotional content relating to gambling. The rationale of the blanket ban is to fight against gambling addiction and to strengthen … Read more

Why is Italy afraid of online poker shared liquidity?

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  At the end of January 2019, the online poker regulatory authorities of France, Portugal, and Spain released a public statement on the implementation of the agreement concerning online poker liquidity sharing that they signed on 6th July 2017. The fourth signatory to that agreement was the gambling authority of Italy. The purpose of the … Read more

Let’s wake up before gambling is treated like tobacco

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Legal provisions adopted in Italy concerning gambling are quite worrying.

Currently, the Italian Senate is debating another increase of the fiscal levy rate for video lotteries (VLT) and amusement with prizes (AWP) machines (low stakes, low prizes). Under the current government, these gaming machines already had two tax increases: one in July 2018, with the ‘Dignity Decree’, in order to compensate for the loss of revenues expected because of the ban on gambling advertising and sponsorships; and a second one, in December, with the Budget Law for 2019….

Italy’s latest Government measures on gambling: new tax increase for slots machines, reduced appeal for 10&Lotto while tightening up sanctions for illegal gambling operators

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In order to finance the Citizenship income, the Italian Government has introduced new provisions for the gambling sector with art. 27 Law Decree no. 4/2019 which entered into force last 29 January. Specifically, it sets forth: a compulsory deduction on player’s winning for the lottery product “10&Lotto” and connected games is increased from 8% to … Read more

ITALY’S BUDGET LAW FOR 2019 PROVISIONS FOR GAMBLING: WHERE FROM HERE?

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The Italian Budget Law for 2019 has increased taxation on gambling. Many gambling products are significantly affected – whether offered offline or online. Starting from 1st January 2019, remote betting turned from 22 to 24% GGR, while offline betting from 18 to 20% GGR; remote bingo and skill games (“giochi di abilità”) taxation turned from … Read more

ITALIAN GAMBLING AUTHORITY TORT LIABILITY TOWARDS REMOTE GAMBLING LICENSEES’ PLAYER

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With its recent judgment no. 4026/2018, the Italian Supreme Court has stated the liability of the Italian gambling authority Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (‘ADM’) towards a player for ADM remote gambling licensees’ tort. The claimant player started an action in tort against the Ministry of Finance and ADM to be redressed of the … Read more

Dignity Decree measures on gambling: from advertising and sponsorship ban to scratch-cards warnings as tobacco products

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Among the Dignity Decree provisions aimed at improving job security, the Italian Parliament has voted a ban on all advertising and sponsorship for gambling with the alleged aim to strengthen consumer protection and to introduce more effective means to combat gambling addiction. Specifically, the Decree bans: with effect as of 14 July 2018, any direct … Read more