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As anticipated in a previous post, the lawfulness of gaming terminals (the so called “totem”) installed in public places (e.g. coffee and tabacco shops, department stores etc.) connecting to online gaming websites (including licensed websites) has been the topic of long debates during the last years. Indeed, some online gaming operators base most of their business on totems located in shops and this circumstance generated considerable complaints from other operators arguing that the online offer of games should be only “online”.
Totems have been highly criticised also because they are the main source of illegal activities as shop assistants in some cases collect bets on behalf of their clients and place them through totems located in their shops. Such practice is in contrast with Italian criminal laws that prohibit the intermediation in the offer of games; only betting shops holding a gaming license issued by the Italian gaming authority can collect bets from players.
The outcome of this long dispute has been the issue by the Italian Gaming Authority of a Circular Bulletin where it clarified that totems are prohibited and can be installed only for the offer of fixed odd betting games following an express authorization from the Authority.
This regulatory change should be welcomed by new entrants in the market that will be able to shortly apply for an Italian online gaming license. In fact, the competition in the Italian online gaming market will occur online and therefore foreign operators will not have to bear the considerable costs connected to the setting up of a network of shops.
Need to know more information about the Italian gaming market? Do you want to apply for an Italian gaming license? Feel free to contact me, Giulio Coraggio.
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