Italian authorities have recently intensified their efforts against illegal gambling, resulting in the closure of two unlicensed betting collection centers in Agrigento and fines surpassing €20,000 (approximately $22,796). This operation, conducted by the Italian customs and gambling regulator (ADM) alongside the Guardia di Finanza (GdF), was made public on Friday.
Inspectors from ADM’s Sicily 6 office in Porto Empedocle, alongside provincial GdF units, executed checks at 14 betting establishments and gaming halls spread across various locations including Agrigento, Favara, Raffadali, Palma di Montechiaro, Campobello di Licata, Ribera, and the Pelagie Islands.
During the sweep, authorities discovered two unlicensed premises functioning as betting collection centers. In one incident in Porto Empedocle, inspectors seized two computer terminals that were not connected to the national gaming collection network, and which also lacked the necessary identification codes. This disconnection likely allowed the terminals to evade recording stakes and gameplay, undermining the nationally mandated single gaming levy (PREU) assessed on recorded gaming turnover.
The confiscation of the devices has resulted in criminal referrals, with the owner of the Porto Empedocle establishment facing allegations of illegal betting operations. Furthermore, a new bill recently introduced in the Italian Senate proposes a 2% levy on all domestic football bets, aiming to create a dedicated funding source for Italy’s football framework. This new levy would be applicable to all domestic football wagers made in Italy, both at physical betting shops and online, affecting matches organized by the Italian Football Federation and its professional and amateur leagues.
This regulatory effort occurs against a backdrop of stagnation within Italy’s gambling market. At a Senate hearing last month, EGP-FIPE—representing operators within the Italian Federation of Public Establishments—highlighted that the development of the legal gambling market has stalled due to continuous extensions of national gambling concessions. The organization argued that the lack of a coherent national reform framework has resulted in a "frozen" sector, hindering effective network planning and diminishing protective measures for problem gambling.
EGP-FIPE president Emmanuele Cangianelli stressed that the rigidity of the land-based market does not necessarily decrease gambling problems; instead, it often pushes gambling activities into online platforms or the underground market where oversight is minimal. He pointed out that this creates significant distortions regarding legality and the sustainability of authorized gambling networks.
Ongoing investigations by the ADM and GdF will continue to focus on consumer protection, particularly for minors and other vulnerable groups, while also addressing criminal activity within the gaming industry. Authorities have also reiterated that those reported are presumed innocent until proven guilty through judicial proceedings.
