Progress on the Italian gambling reorganisation has hit a sluggish pace according to recent reports. The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) has initiated discussions with the country’s 20 autonomous regions, yet little progress has been achieved in outlining the implementation of new legislation.
The updated laws introduce fresh regulations for various gambling establishments. These regulations include minimum distance requirements and changes to opening hours. However, discussions have promptly stalled due to regions expressing uncertainties regarding the reforms.
Regional leaders have submitted a proposal outlining their perspective on how the changes should be executed, but the MEF has not given it the green light. Despite the setbacks, the MEF maintains a positive outlook regarding the prospect of finalising a framework for new regulations, emphasising quality standards over rigid distance regulations.
Among the contentious points in the new legislation are proposals for temporary closures preceding major sporting events and lottery draws, which some fear may lead to revenue losses for operators and the state. Additionally, regional leaders are requesting €300 million annually in funding for venue monitoring and the implementation of safer gambling measures.
The Conferenza Unificata, responsible for coordinating cooperation between Italy’s central government and autonomous regions, has called upon regional presidents and municipal councillors to lend their support to the proposed restructuring of land-based gambling.
Meanwhile, Twitch is facing criticism in Sweden following an inquiry that uncovered the widespread promotion of unlicensed online casinos. Sveriges Television’s Kulturnyheterna conducted an investigation, revealing that a significant majority of Swedish influencers were promoting unlicensed casinos.
Despite Twitch implementing a ban in 2022 on the promotion of online casino operators without proper licences in the US or other regulated jurisdictions, Kulturnyheterna’s investigation says that Twitch remains a primary platform for such promotions. The program stated that during their investigation, they observed hour-long live broadcasts by popular streamers, wherein they actively boost unlicensed casino games to their followers.
The investigation discovered that these streamers collectively reached around half a million subscribers. Approximately 60 percent of these influencers employed direct marketing tactics, including sharing links to online casinos, as well as promoting bonus offers.
Kulturnyheterna has reported its findings to the Swedish gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, for further action.
Earlier, residents of Sweden supported the ban of “Bonus Buy” slot mechanic.
