- The Italian Senate has voted to ban radio and television gambling advertising.
- The amendment to a government finance bill means that the bill now returns to the Italian House of Representatives for a third reading.
The Italian Senate has passed an amendment to a government finance bill that will ban radio and television gambling advertising. The amendment means that the bill now returns to the Italian House of Representatives for a third reading.
The ban was proposed by Socialist Party Senator Riccardo Nencini, who triumphantly announced: “The government expressed itself in opposition during the debate, then… changed its mind and shared our arguments.” He continued: “It’s a success for the whole socialist delegation, a battle began in the House by Marco Di Lello and continued and won in the Senate. A direct shot at interest groups.”
In line with other European socialist parties, the Italian party opposes gambling advertising on the grounds that it “induces compulsive behaviors” and contravenes EU rules on the protection of minors. The Spanish Socialist Party has recently proposed several anti-gambling measures in Spain.
Online poker in Italy has been in decline almost since regulation was introduced. Should the proposed ban be implemented, it may further deter the possibility of growth.
