Italian Customs Agency Halts Illegal Lottery Disguised as Prize Competition

The Italian Agency for Customs and Monopolies (Adm) has shut down a prize competition that was, in reality, an unauthorized lottery. The agency is also considering imposing penalties of up to €500,000.

Adm, during its routine checks, ordered the cessation of a prize competition designed to circumvent the state monopoly on games. The competition was organized by a motor vehicle company in the province of Modena.

According to Adm’s official website, the prize competition was actually a deferred-draw lottery. Customers who purchased a bracelet at a price significantly higher than its market value were entered into a draw for the sole prize: a car worth approximately €30,000.

The company has been ordered to withdraw all materials related to the competition from the market. The administrative penalties range from €50,000 to €500,000. During the investigation, Adm personnel from the Emilia-Romagna regional office, acting on instructions from the central office, obtained falsified tax documents. The company’s legal representative has been reported to the Public Prosecutor’s Office on suspicion of committing the crime outlined in Article 483 of the penal code: “Ideological falsehood committed by a private individual in a public document.”