Italian authorities have taken decisive action against illegal gambling operations in Agrigento, shutting down two unauthorised betting collection centres and imposing fines surpassing €20,000 ($22,796). This operation, announced on Friday, was a collaborative effort between the Italian customs and gambling regulator (ADM) and the Guardia di Finanza (GdF).
Inspectors from ADM’s Sicily 6 office in Porto Empedocle, alongside provincial units of the GdF, inspected 14 betting shops and gaming venues spread across various towns, including Agrigento, Favara, Raffadali, Palma di Montechiaro, Campobello di Licata, Ribera, and the Pelagie Islands.
During the checks, the authorities discovered two locations operating as illegal betting collection centres. In one case in Porto Empedocle, inspectors seized two computer terminals that were not connected to the national gaming collection network, which is a requirement. These terminals also lacked necessary identification codes, allowing them to circumvent the mandated recording of stakes and plays. This disconnection raised concerns that the operators could evade the single national gaming tax (PREU) tied to the turnover of gaming devices.
As a result of these findings, criminal referrals were made, with the owner of the Porto Empedocle premises being reported to the public prosecutor in Agrigento on suspicions of engaging in illegal betting activities. Additionally, a new bill introduced earlier this month in the Italian Senate proposes a 2% levy on all domestic football bets. This measure aims to provide a dedicated funding source for Italy's football system and will apply to bets placed at physical shops and online, encompassing matches arranged by the Italian Football Federation and its affiliated leagues.
This crackdown occurs during a regulatory impasse within Italy's gambling sector. At a recent Senate hearing, EGP-FIPE, which advocates for operators as part of the Italian Federation of Public Establishments within Confcommercio, highlighted that the growth of the legal gambling market has stalled due to repeated extensions of national gambling concessions.
The organisation argued that the lack of a cohesive reform framework has left the sector in a state of stagnation, hindering effective planning and reinforcing protective measures against problem gambling. Emmanuele Cangianelli, president of EGP-FIPE, noted that restricting the physical gambling market does not reduce demand but merely shifts it online or to underground avenues, where oversight is non-existent. This shift undermines efforts to maintain regulatory control and introduces significant challenges regarding legality and the sustainability of the authorized market.
The ADM and GdF confirmed that investigations are ongoing and emphasized their commitment to continue enforcement actions aimed at protecting consumers likely to be at risk, particularly minors and vulnerable populations, while also striving to eliminate criminal elements infiltrating the gaming industry. Authorities maintained the principle of presumption of innocence for those reported until proven guilty in a court of law.
