Italian gaming venues forced to close again

The country has entered a new national lockdown due to rising Covid-19 cases.

Italy.- Betting shops, arcades and bingo halls across Italy will be forced to close their doors again due to new measures designed to curb a resurgence in the number of Covid-19 cases.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has announced a new national lockdown under which bars and restaurants must close at 6pm on weekdays and all day on Sunday. 

Non-essential businesses, which include betting shops, gaming arcades and bingo halls, must close completely until November 24.

Tickets for Lotto and SuperEnalotto sold at kiosks and tobacconists will be the only retail gaming vertical available.

Trade bodies such as Sapar, As.Tro and Acadi criticised the decision. They argued that no cases of Covid-19 had been traced to gaming venues and that businesses had redesigned premises to allow greater social distancing. 

Acadi estimated that operators have already lost €1.8bn in revenue this year due to Covid-19 measures. It said they could expect to lose another €700m by the end of November.

Italy is currently facing legal challenges over uncertainty surrounding online gaming licence extensions.