Mario Lollobrigida Highlights Strategies to Combat Problem Gambling at Brightstar Lottery Event
Mario Lollobrigida, Director of Gaming at the Customs and Monopolies Agency, recently spoke at the Brightstar Lottery event, “Playing Big: Observations on Public Gaming,” organized by Swg and Formiche. His remarks focused on the agency’s efforts to address and mitigate problem gambling, both online and in physical establishments.
Understanding the Scope of the Issue
Lollobrigida emphasized the importance of research in understanding the complexities of problem gambling. “Research of this kind is very important because it gives us awareness of the phenomenon,” he stated. “We already knew that comorbidity exists within the scope of pathological gambling, and this was evident from many data that we have already analyzed. It is clear that we need to find a system to intervene in both areas, in the area of online and physical gaming.”
Online Gaming: Leveraging Technology for Prevention
Lollobrigida highlighted the advancements made in online gaming regulation through Legislative Decree 41. He explained that the new tender for online gaming concessions includes significant player protection measures. “In the new tender that we have put in place for the new online gaming concessions, we have foreseen, in the technical offer from the operators who will purchase the new concession, important protection interventions to protect players and prevent the phenomenon of pathological gambling,” he said.
He further elaborated on the use of technology: “It is simpler because each concessionaire has continuous knowledge of the gaming activities of the various subjects, of the various players, so they can organize prevention actions but also combat more significant compulsive phenomena. Even through artificial intelligence systems to understand, seeing the times, the methods of play, you can send messages dedicated to the player’s methods of play, even suspending the possibility of play. Some concessionaires are already doing it.”
Physical Gaming: A More Complex Challenge
Addressing the challenges in regulating physical gaming, Lollobrigida acknowledged the limitations of current tools. “It is evident that the tools we have are much less effective and, as highlighted in the Swg research, are the possible solutions provided by psychologists. This is why we talk above all about prevention,” he explained.
He stressed the importance of operator training: “This is done through serious training of operators. Some subjects, some concessionaires, some trade associations are already starting on this path, and the decree to reorganize physical gaming, which, as far as we are concerned, is a finished work, but must face some steps, with local authorities, with the regions, steps with the commissions, in this sense is fundamental.”
Lollobrigida concluded by expressing concern over potential delays in the physical gaming reform due to ongoing discussions about extending the tax delegation timeline. “Unfortunately, we do not know when the work on this segment of public gaming will be completed, given that they are discussing the possibility of extending the deadlines for the tax delegation with a further postponement of the work. But for us, the training part by the concessionaires of public establishments is absolutely fundamental and central,” he stated.
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