The government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has put land-based gaming law reforms on the fast track. The parliament received the proposal April 20 and will assign it to 12 parliamentary committees before it receives a final vote—which is likely in 2024.
This is the third attempt in eight years to reform the gaming sector, reports SBC News. This attempt is being led by Treasury Deputy Minister Maurizio Leo.
The goal is to standardize gaming laws and regulations over all Italian provinces. The Meloni government also wants to move towards concentrating brick-and-mortar gaming locations such as casinos and bingo halls “in safe and controlled venues,” away from university students and other vulnerable populations.
At the top of the list of desired reforms is safer gambling and requiring that the sector’s operators provide for “the full protection of problem gamblers.”
Measures to accomplish that include decreasing stake caps and winnings and providing mandatory training for dealers and operators and making it easier for gamblers to self-exclude.
The government also warns that it will probably raise gaming taxes and fees and adjust payout percentages to be more favorable to players.
Italy’s gaming market is growing and is among the largest in Europe. In 2022, gross gaming revenue increased 31 percent to €19.6 billion while tax revenues leaped 28 percent.
