Gambling sponsorship could return to Italian sport under new decree
The Sports Decree could partially reverse the ban on gambling sponsorship in a bid to revitalise Italian sport.
Italy.- Minister for sport Andrea Abodi has presented a draft of the proposed Sports Decree in a bid to revitalise Italian sport through infrastructure upgrades and new commercial opportunities. Measures include a possible return of gambling sponsorship, which was banned under the 2018 Dignity Decree.
Prime minister Giorgia Meloni is pushing for infrastructure developments ahead of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics next February, and the decree has the backing of the Council of Ministers.
Stakeholders from Serie A football, national federations, and broadcasters will take part in a consultation in the coming months while a new regulatory framework is being drawn up. The aim would be to permit gambling sponsorships but with stringent conditions for licensed operators, the number of which is to fall from 81 to 46 under the new Italian online gambling licence regime.
The Sports Decree proposes a 1 per cent tax on sponsorship income for sports clubs and bodies. This would be designated for areas such as stadium renovations, women’s and youth sports initiatives and responsible gambling programmes.
Abodi told the media that the decree has “an economic imperative,” as the government pursues lasting investment while resolving long-standing structural weaknesses.
The 2018 Dignity Decree’s ban on gambling sponsorship in sports is widely seen to have harmed financial support for the sector. Analysts anticipate that its repeal could restore up to €150m a year to top-flight Italian football. There’s also support from judicial authorities due to legal challenges over disputed contracts.
It’s less clear whether the final decree will include any relaxation of the rules for gambling ads on TV or online. The government has suggested that it believes an easing of restrictions would help channelisation to the regulated market, and Abodi said that any changes would be accompanied by strict monitoring and oversight, but health bodies are opposed to any flexibilisation. A formal bill on the matter will be presented for parliamentary review by September
“This issue demands ideological clarity,” Abodi said.The challenge of limiting gambling addiction is serious. I believe a responsible solution can balance economic logic with social conscience.”
Since Italy introduced the Dignity Decree, several other European countries have introduced bans on gambling sponsorship, including Spain, Belgium and, more recently, the Netherlands.
The Dutch ban on gambling sponsorship came into force on July 1. The national gambling regulator, the KSA, says it has largely been respected by operators and sports clubs so far. In Belgium, some clubs used loopholes to circumvent the ban.
