ADM: ‘How to Recognize Illegal Gambling Sites’

Italian Official Explains How to Spot Illegal Gambling Sites

Luca Turchi, a manager at the Gaming Controls Office of the Customs and Monopolies Agency (Adm), recently shared insights on how to identify illegal gambling websites and the risks they pose to players.

Turchi’s interview, published on the agency’s social media platforms, coincided with a Guardia di Finanza operation in Varese that uncovered 50 fraudulent websites. The interview highlights Adm’s ongoing efforts to identify and block unauthorized sites, protecting citizens from fraud and other dangers.

Risks of Illegal Gambling

According to Turchi, Italian players who use illegal gambling sites lack the protections offered by authorized concessionaires of the Customs and Monopolies Agency. These protections include secure payment processing and proper management of gaming funds. Furthermore, Turchi emphasized that playing on illegal sites is a crime punishable under Article 4, paragraph 3 of Law 401 of 1980.

How Adm Blocks Illegal Sites

Turchi explained that Adm’s process for blocking these sites is complex. It begins with an analysis of the internet by officials from the Gaming Controls Office, along with personnel from Sogei. A designated official then conducts a thorough check of the potential list of illegal sites. Finally, the Remote Gaming Office verifies that the sites are not linked to Italian concessionaires.

Following this process, Adm issues a directive that is published on its website and distributed to internet service providers, requiring them to block the sites within 15 days. This procedure is based on Article 102 of Decree Law 104 of 2020, Turchi noted.

Identifying Legal Gambling Sites

Turchi offered advice on how players can distinguish between legal and illegal gambling sites:

• Legal concessionaire sites display the Adm logo.
• They include the concession number.
• They feature information to protect minors, preventing them from gambling.

Turchi stated that these features are typically absent from illegal sites. He also advised players to visit the official Adm website, where they can find a list of all authorized concessionaires and their associated websites.