Italy to crackdown on gambling ads

The new coalition government revealed its plans to reduce the amount of advertising on gambling sites.

Italy.- Italy’s deputy premier and leader of the Five Star Movement party, Luigi Di Maio, announced on Thursday that the gambling industry is set to suffer significant changes, especially the online sector.

The government had unveiled new regulations last month, in which there was included the elimination of gambling machines (slot machines, video lottery terminals) and strong limitations on forms of gambling with repeated bets. The bill also called for an absolute ban on gambling advertising and sponsorships.

Di Maio issued a decree this week that calls for the total prohibition of gambling advertising, and said to a local radio station that the coalition is planning to modify the industry and would start with the advertising sector.

Nevertheless, the new deputy premier said that the coalition is not out to eliminate gambling altogether because that would mean that organised crime groups would be in charge of the industry.