Italian Authorities Discuss Responsible Gaming and Industry Reorganization
The Italian Agency for Customs and Monopolies (ADM) has released the concluding summary report from the second edition of the General States, held on May 21 and 22, 2025, at Palazzo Wedekind in Rome.
The event was divided into three sessions focusing on Customs, Excise Duties, and Gaming, with participation from business representatives, public institutions, and academia.
Gaming Session Highlights
The gaming session on May 22, titled “Promoting and Developing Responsible Gaming Through Regulation, Technological Innovation, and Behavioral Science Perspectives,” featured four working groups moderated by Dr. Paolo Poggio, Deputy Director of Rainews 24.
Two papers were presented during the gaming session, one by Dr. Angelo Berardi and another by AGSI – Italian Association of Betting Operators.
Dr. Berardi’s Concerns About Online Gambling
Dr. Berardi’s paper addressed the issue of inciting gambling in the digital environment. He argued that this phenomenon is growing and involves directly and systematically fueling compulsive re-betting behaviors. Those most affected are newcomers to gambling, vulnerable individuals, and those already experiencing problems.
The paper noted that large-scale digital platforms, particularly YouTube, but also Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, host gambling-related content daily. This content includes live gaming sessions and implicit invitations to participate, often disguised as “strategies.”
Dr. Berardi described this as “structured, continuous, and normalized incitement, despite the sensitive nature of the topic and its serious public health implications.” He emphasized that the increasing digital exposure is a primary factor reinforcing and causing relapse in compulsive behavior.
He further stated that “treating gambling as a simple online pastime has created a culture of carelessness that fails to explain why millions of individuals,” who initially approached gambling for entertainment, “end up involved in problematic or pathological forms, often invisible to the healthcare system and not represented in official SerD (Addiction Services Department) numbers.”
Dr. Berardi’s paper stressed the need to investigate the “systemic origins of public gambling” and to counter the urge to re-bet through future regulatory interventions at both the national and European Union levels. He specifically mentioned utilizing the Digital Services Act, which holds platforms accountable for preventing content that could harm vulnerable individuals.
AGSI’s Proposals for Reorganizing Physical Gaming
AGSI presented proposals for reorganizing physical gaming, stating that the 2017 agreement reached in the Unified Conference serves as a foundation for restructuring the physical network. They noted that market conditions have changed significantly in recent years, especially with the strong growth of physical gaming. The paper also raised concerns about the proliferation of regional and municipal regulations, which hinder a consistent distribution of gaming offerings.
AGSI highlighted disparities in treatment between different types of games and between operators providing gaming services.
AGSI outlined key points for reorganizing physical gaming, including defining “sensitive” locations such as upper secondary schools and addiction health districts, as well as opening hours for gaming venues from 10:00 AM to 3:00 AM. They also proposed requirements for venues to obtain certification, such as staff training in combating Gambling Disorder and complete traceability of bets and winnings.
AGSI proposed specific distances between sensitive locations and certified (100 meters) and non-certified venues (greater distance). They suggested that the tender for new concessions should allocate a maximum of 8,000 licenses, with regional concentration limits and clear, unambiguous rules. Regarding taxation, AGSI proposed reducing taxes on Amusement with Prize (AWP) machines and Videolottery (VLT) terminals, as well as reducing levies on pari-mutuel horse race betting. They also emphasized the urgent need to update horse race betting reforms as proposed by the horse racing consultation delegation to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry. Furthermore, AGSI proposed allowing all Certified Activities to sell all ADM Gaming Products.
AGSI also stressed the need to improve banking access for operators to facilitate compliance with anti-money laundering procedures and financial flow traceability. The paper proposed establishing a professional qualification for specialized and certified shop operators, which could become a prerequisite for venue certification. Finally, AGSI suggested that institutional communication should be more effective in addressing the risks of pathological gambling while also highlighting the social initiatives funded by gaming revenues.
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