A slew of changes are possibly coming to Italy’s online gaming segment
The Italian Ministry of Finance (MEF) will soon issue preliminary legislation of amendments for new gambling reforms. The ministry has supported redrafting existing iGaming laws to make major changes to the framework for gaming providers that wish to operate in the country.
Italy hasn’t revised online gaming laws since it approved the activity in 2011. The MEF’s mandate will thus demand the first-ever reexamination of the Italian gambling laws. In a draft of the regulation, the MEF seeks to change Italy’s regulatory oversight, licensing fees, black market controls, and concession frameworks for iGaming businesses.
The MEF says that current concessions are too inexpensive and seeks to increase the price to €7 million (about $7.4 million). There will also be a limit of five licenses per operator, which aims to prevent companies from monopolizing the market.
The MEF’s proposed reforms won’t change how Italian online gaming operators are taxed but permit the government to issue individual concessions with an annual 2% adjustment fee.
The agency also wants to form a Public Gambling Council, which would have the task of evaluating the condition of the market and proposing suitable actions when required. It also seeks to end the impact unlicensed websites have on the market and calls for aid in eradicating the online gaming black market.
Other measures proposed against unlicensed operators include requiring other government agencies to deliver support in the effort to end illegal gambling, which is presently a big issue in Italy following the gambling scandal implicating several prominent Italian soccer players.
