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The Times Online reports that Ladbrokes, the English bookmaker, has decided to put on sale its 170 Italian betting shops for an estimated £ 50 million. According to the Times Online, the main reason of this decision is that “the continued presence of illegal shops, increased competition and the withdrawal of the protective distance rule”. Indeed, a number of operators are currently putting pressure on the Italian gaming authority (the AAMS) to adopt more stringent measures against unlawful gaming to protect their investments.
I agree that this is a very relevant issue, but as already reported (see Action Plan against Unlawful Gaming), a law empowering the AAMS to implement an action plan aimed at substantially limit unlawful gaming has been recently passed showing that both the Italian Parliament and the AAMS will be in the next future more aggressive against unlawful gaming. This is also confirmed by the recent introduction of criminal penalties up to 3 years of imprisonment for the provision online or offline of gaming, betting and gambling activities to the benefit of Italian residents without an Italian gaming license.
We will see shortly whether the AAMS will win the battle against unlawful gaming.
