Everything appears to be in place for tomorrow, when the Senate Culture Commission is expected to give the green light to the bill reforming Italian football’s regulations on gaming and betting advertising. This marks the government’s chosen path to overturn the ban imposed by the 2018 Decreto Dignità.
Under this decree, all forms of advertising for games and betting with cash prizes were prohibited, including within sporting events. According to Repubblica, which has reviewed the parliamentary document, there is now a formal request to reconsider the existing ban specifically in the context of sports.
With this measure, Sports Minister Andrea Abodi will push forward a reform that will also serve as a tool to help consumers distinguish between legal and illegal operators. This would allow betting advertisements to reappear on banners and billboards within sports venues. The document under review at Palazzo Madama also includes a proposal to allocate a portion of the annual revenue “derived from sports gaming and betting to the organizers of the events on which bets are placed.”
The goal is to direct at least 1% of the total revenue to a fund dedicated to building new stadiums or upgrading existing ones. According to Repubblica, a portion of the funds would also be allocated to the football system to finance specific social, sports, and youth development projects within clubs.
The proposed measures also include initiatives to combat gambling addiction and provide support in cases of abuse and discrimination involving athletes. sb/AGIMEG
