Draft decree to outline reforms for land-based gambling in Italy
Long-delayed reforms are expected to finally advance this year.
Italy.- Long-delayed plans to reform land-based gambling in Italy are expected to finally move forward this year with the anticipated publication of a new draft decree. While a new framework for online gambling in Italy came into effect last year, reforms of fragmented land-based regulations have been held up in years of negotiations with the country’s 20 autonomous regions and 110 municipalities.
The reforms aim to replace the patchwork approach to regulation with coherent national framework, covering gaming machines, video lottery terminals (VLTs), betting shops and bingo halls. The aim is also to introduce consistent consumer protection standards. However, local authorities have concerns over taxation and compensation for any local budget loss.
The government now hopes to launch new concession tenders for slot machines, betting and bingo by the end of the year to bring in around €2bn in new tax revenues.
According to the local industry new portal, AgiproNews, it’s estimated that the number of bars, tobacconists and gaming halls allowed to host slots will be reduced by around 10 per cent to 40,000. Meanwhile, the number of slots is expected to drop from around 240,000 to 200,000 and the number of VLTs from 55,000 to 46,000.
The lid on betting shops is expected stay at 10,000, but the distinction between specialised betting shops and betting counters in hospitality venues is set to be eliminated.
The customs and monopolies agency ADM, which regulates gambling in Italy, intends to introduce a new certification process under which both licensees and franchisees would need to show compliance with measures to protect against gambling harm and prevent minors from gambling.
The decree is also expected to introduce standardised minimum distances from schools, hospitals and addiction treatment providers. This would be set at 100 metres for certified gaming venues and 200 metres for those without certification. Certification would also come with benefits for opening hours as certified venues would have to close for six and a half hours a day, compared to eight hours for non-certified venues.
There’s still a long journey to go and no timeline in sight since the legislation, being overseen by the Ministry of Economy and Finance under Maurizio Leo, will need to reviewed by the Council of Ministers, the Conferenza Unificata of regions and parliamentary committees.
