Members of Italy’s government are considering whether to restructure the country’s gaming sector as part of the country’s next budget law.
A draft proposal to reorganize the sector is being finalized by Claudio Durigon, former undersecretary of the treasury. Durigon has lobbied the government for months for changes to the sector, reported SBC News.
Most officials concede the need for reform and point to the “blue book,” published by the Customs and Monopolies Agency, which laid out how the Covid-19 pandemic damaged the sector and decreased essential tax revenues.
Gross gaming revenues declined 33 percent in 2020 to €12.9 billion (US$15 million) and total wagering fell 17 percent to €75 billion. The land-based sector of the industry saw a 48 percent drop in retail wagering, 59 percent drop in bingo under the pummeling of strict lockdown orders.
Amending the sector isn’t guaranteed as Italy’s political parties maneuver for next year’s presidential election.
