How AAMS Fights Unlicensed Casinos in Italy
Betting activities continue to thrive in Italy despite hopes that the Coronavirus lockdown would help curb problem gambling and addiction to gambling. Although Italy has re-opened its lottery games, slot machine games, sports betting shops, land-based casinos, and bingo halls all over the country continue to remain closed.
Critics are against shutting down licensed gambling establishments in the country. They say that doing so is a bad idea as it will encourage illegal gambling, rob employees of their livelihood, and deprive the country of the tax revenue it badly needs at present.
There is data to show that Italian players spend more than €100 billion on games of chance every year. YouTrend, a data analytics group, released figures in 2019, which show that Italy has a slot machine game for every 151 players. Around 400,000 Italians have reported that they are victims of some form of gambling harm, according to the National Research Council of Pisa.
The above figures indicate that Italians are fond of gambling. No lockdown is going to keep them away from their favourite online casino games. A rising number of them are turning to online gambling to satisfy their desire to gamble and most of them prefer unlicensed casinos because they are free of the restrictions imposed by Italy’s severe online gambling laws.
How Italy Deals with Illegal Online Gambling Sites
Italy deals with illegal online gambling sites in the same way that other EU countries that have regulated online gambling do. The country has created an attractive licensed online gambling market for the local players with hopes that it would keep them away from unlicensed online casinos. It also blocks the domains of illegal online gambling sites and financial transactions between Italian players and non-license casinos without AAMS. Italy has also taken the extreme step of banning all gambling ads.
The Italian Agency of Customs and Monopolies (ADM) had blocked around 7000 unlicensed online gambling sites and websites operating in violation of Italian online gambling laws. The country created fresh laws to give extra powers to its financial police units, customs, and monitoring digital services to block gambling sites operating without an Italian license and websites promoting and marketing unlicensed online casinos that target Italian players.
The new laws give Italy’s law-enforcement agents the power to conduct spot checks and strictly monitor the activities of Internet service providers (ISPs). As a result, five ISPs were fined as much as €320,000 for failing to monitor and restrict illegal gambling sites.
Italy is just as tough on illegal land-based gambling activities as it is on illegal online casinos. The continuous inspection of slot machines and video lottery machines by the Italian police led to the suspension of 33 gambling establishments, which had to pay fines of up to €300,000.
In February 2019, the Italian government announced further measures to fight against unlicensed and illegal gambling. It increased fines for gambling operators who violate the country’s strict gambling laws.
According to new laws, operators have to pay fines of up to €20,000 for every unregistered, illegal, or unlicensed gambling machine found in their amusement arcade or betting store. Gambling operators found guilty of engaging in any crime have to pay a fine of €50,000. The fines can reach mammoth proportions as they apply to every violation of Italy’s updated gambling laws.
Operators of illegal gambling establishments can also face prison terms in the range of 3 – 6 years. Previously, the prison terms were only between six months and three years.
Gambling in Italy FAQs
Is it legal to gamble in Italy?
Gambling is legal in Italy provided it is licensed by the Italian government. Residents of Italy can safely and legally play games of chance such as bingo, lottery games, and casino games and place bets on sports events at online gambling sites that have received an Italian license.
How old should I be to gamble legally in Italy?
In Italy, the legal age to gamble is 18. No Italian-licensed online or offline gambling business accepts players below that age. Italian gambling laws require land-based and online casinos to conduct age and identity verification checks to make sure that players are of the legal age to gamble.
What are the gambling laws for Italian players and operators?
Italian gambling laws are strict and slightly complicated. Gambling activities organized in public places and private clubs are illegal. Also, Italian laws clearly distinguish between skill-based games and chance-based games.
Italian gambling laws are loaded with restrictions. The number of land-based casinos in the country is restricted to only five. Italian residents can legally gamble only in these casinos. Italy also has other land-based gambling establishments that can operate only with a license that remains valid for 9 years.
Although the number of land-based casinos is limited, you will find plenty of slot machine games in Italian gaming parlours, shopping malls, tobacco shops, and bars.
Who regulates gambling in Italy?
There are three major organizations responsible for overseeing and licensing gambling activities in Italy.
The Autonomous Administration of State Monopolies (AAMS) grants licenses to operators of gambling businesses in Italy. The AAMS also ensures fair gaming and equal distribution of prizes and prevents licensed gambling operators from violating the country’s gambling laws.
The ADM is Italy’s official regulatory body. Its duties are to regulate games, grant licenses, supervise the activities of licensees, enforce regulatory provisions, monitor gambling activities, collect taxes, and penalize operators who violate gambling laws.
SISAL is a regulatory body that helps the ADM. One of its duties is to regulate the SuperEnalotto, Italy’s national lottery game.
How can I find out if an online casino has an Italian license?
Online casinos that have received an AAMS license clearly mention it on their websites. Scroll down to the website footer and check for the AAMS logo along with a link that directs you to the license. An operator that does not display the AAMS logo on its website is not licensed in Italy.