iGaming Business – The Italian Senate has passed an amendment to a government finance bill that will ban radio and television gambling advertising in the country.
According to the Pokernews.com website, the amendment proposed to introduce a ban against the advertisement of real-money gambling.
The amendment, which did not mention online gambling, was introduced by Socialist party Senator Riccardo Nencini as part of an effort to clamp down in compulsive gambling.
Although having been initially opposed by several members of the government, the amendment passed with a unanimous vote and will now return to the Italian House of Representatives for a third reading.
Nencini said the vote is a “victory for the Socialist party” and that the measures are in line with European principles against compulsive gambling.
“The government expressed itself in opposition during the debate, then changed its mind and shared our arguments,” Nencini said.
“It’s a success for the whole socialist delegation, a battle began in the House by Marco Di Lello and continued and won in the Senate. A direct shot at interest groups.”
The amendment forms part of a broader bill that was approved by the House of Representatives in September 2013. The bill features measures about Italy’s fiscal system as well as the norms on horseracing and slots.
Due to the text being altered during its second reading at the Senate, it will now return for a third reading.
Should the ban be implemented, it could negatively impact country’s online poker industry, which is already facing a double-digit decline due to low player liquidity and high gaming taxes.
