Land-based gaming reform, AGIC: “Essential to end the system of repeated extensions”

AGIC – Associazione Gioco e Intrattenimento in Concessione, which represents the market’s leading operators – highlighted, in a document presented today in Rome, the critical issues that could arise if the reform is not implemented.

Following an initial phase in which the sector was centrally managed by AAMS, now ADM, Regions and Municipalities have introduced their own regulations in recent years, mainly on public health grounds, restricting the location and opening hours of gaming outlets. This overlap of local rules has created an inconsistent regulatory system which, as also noted by the Council of State, hinders both the planning of the gaming network and the launch of tenders for retail concessions.

For example, a betting shop in Emilia-Romagna must be located at least 500 metres from so-called sensitive locations, such as schools and healthcare facilities, while the same type of outlet in Lazio is required to maintain a distance of 250 metres. In some Regions, the minimum distance also varies according to the population of the Municipality in which the gaming business is to be established or operated.

In short, this regulatory patchwork needs to be reorganised to provide the sector and the companies involved with a uniform framework and allow them to modernise a network dating back to the early 2000s.

Maurizio Leo, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, had announced that the reform would soon be submitted to the Council of Ministers for final approval, ahead of the expiry of the Tax Reform Enabling Act at the end of August. It therefore appeared that the reform was close to completion.

However, expectations were dampened by comments from Alfredo Mantovano, Undersecretary of State to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, who stated: “We are not even remotely considering the possibility of removing geographical distance requirements between places frequented by young people and legal gambling outlets.”

The Ministry of Economy and Finance document did in fact address the issue of minimum distances, setting them at 100 metres from sensitive locations – schools and addiction treatment centres – for certified outlets and 200 metres for all others. The Government, however, considers the issue non-negotiable.

Has everything come to a halt? It would appear so, which is why AGIC has raised the alarm.

“The regulatory framework governing Italy’s legal gaming sector has become extremely complex and fragmented. After an initial period in which rules and concession management were centralised under the former AAMS, over the past decade the accumulation of regional legislation and municipal regulations introduced on public health grounds has progressively supplemented and superseded national rules.

“The sector’s regulatory framework,” the association stated, “has gradually moved away from a centralised and coherent system, progressively replaced by local measures adopted by Regions and Municipalities to restrict the location and opening hours of gaming outlets. This has resulted in widespread regulatory fragmentation.

“The overlap and inconsistency of these local regulations now represent an obstacle to launching tenders in the retail sector, as also established by the Council of State. They prevent the definition of criteria capable of guiding the management and planning of gaming activities, as well as the design of the local network of land-based outlets.”

Completing the reform would allow the sector to move towards a more modern and secure framework.

“AGIC’s position is entirely justified, given the clear benefits that the reform of land-based gaming would produce,” said Fabio Felici, Director of the specialised news agency Agimeg. “As the association has pointed out, it would make it possible to end the system of repeated extensions, develop long-term industrial planning and harmonise regulations across the country.

“These benefits would help protect the sector’s almost 150,000 direct and indirect workers while safeguarding tax revenues. Companies would also be able to invest in technology, innovation and security, strengthening the regulated network’s role in upholding legality and protecting both consumers and operators.

“Finally, the reform would address the issue of minimum-distance requirements, which have not only proved ineffective in preventing gambling addiction but have also diverted resources towards the illegal market.”

AGIC’s position

Having welcomed the reform of the online gaming sector, AGIC has consistently supported the full completion of the regulatory reform process for the land-based retail network, including betting, amusement machines, AWP and VLT machines, and bingo.

According to AGIC, completing the reform would allow companies to plan long-term investments in innovative and secure technologies. It would also strengthen safeguards and prevention tools for retail players, in line with those already introduced for online gaming. Furthermore, it would reopen the possibility of launching tenders for new concessions.

Finally, AGIC stressed that legal gaming remains the most effective means of identifying at-risk behaviour and directing people towards appropriate support services. This role can only be fulfilled if the regulated system is not progressively weakened in favour of the illegal market.