Poker News – On Thursday, Italy’s Houses of Representatives approved a bill which will modify the current rules applied to gambling ads. Yet despite what media outlets reported earlier this month, Italy is not going to apply a ban on TV and radio gambling advertising.
The new law will not introduce a full ban, instead only adding some new limitations to gambling TV and radio ads. Furthermore, the new rules are not going to become immediately effective as the text approved only states guidelines for future gambling regulation to be translated into norms during 2014 by Italy’s government.
Speaking on the issue, founder of European Gambling Lawyers and Advisors Giovanni Carboni told PokerNews that while Italy’s gambling situation remains uncertain, international operators should not worry about such a dramatic measure to be implemented in Italy, as the Parliament did not state that the country will ban gambling advertising anytime soon.
“On February 4, 2014, a part of the online gambling world had been alarmed by the news of the unanimous approval by the House of Representatives of a ban of gambling advertising from TV channels and radio stations in Italy,” Carboni explained.
“I was in London for the ICE – Totally Gaming conference when many of my clients started calling and emailing me worried about the news. I explained them that there was no need to be afraid of an upcoming ban and after hearing my views, they went back to their regular work without fearing for the future of their operations in Italy.”
Carboni, who is one of Italy’s leading industry consultants and is often actively involved in Italy’s regulator AAMS operations, has a clear idea of what is happening in Rome and why most of the online gambling criticism will not translate into a gambling ban anytime soon.
