(Finance) – Arrived the definitive yes of the Council of Ministers to the draft legislative decree “Provisions regarding the reorganization of the gaming sector, starting from remote gaming”. With the definitive approval of the Legislative Decree about online games, the Government intervenes to rationalize and update the remote public gaming system, increasing the value of the concessions to be assigned, bringing them to the correct market levels. The entire system is regulated with more modern and rigorous standards.
The amounts requested from dealers are therefore significantly increased, as they will have to pay three fees to operate in Italy:one-off fee‘ which goes from the previous 250 thousand euros to 7 million euros (a good 2,800 percent more); an’annual fee‘ equal to 3% of the net revenues of each dealer (double compared to the past); a ‘annual fee‘ equal to 0.2% of dealers’ net revenues for information and communication campaigns to combat gambling addiction.
The renewal of the lottery tender is also arranged (in 2025), moving from an auction base of 700 million to 1 billion euros. Furthermore, it is put definitively the end to the use of cash for online games. Anyone who wants to top up more than 100 euros in cash will necessarily have to use traceable and secure electronic payment tools. An important measure in the fight against money laundering on which the Meloni Government has been at the forefront since its inauguration.
On the front of prevention of pathological gambling, the promotion, communication and dissemination of messages for exclusively social purposes is envisaged, aimed at promoting safe and responsible gaming. These messages include the indication of the logo or brand of the concessionaire that promotes the message and are aimed at the protection and protection of players, in particular the most vulnerable subjects.
The establishment of the “Permanent Council of public games admitted in Italy” is confirmed, whose function is monitor the progress of gaming activities, including illicit and unauthorized ones. The Consultation also undertakes to analyze the effects of gaming activities on the health of players and proposes to the Government measures and interventions aimed at combating the development of pathological gambling.
The next step will be a intervention on the physical games network to achieve a complete and definitive rationalization of the entire system.