Italian politicians mull gambling advertising restrictions

A bill proposing tough gambling advertising restrictions and carrying reportedly influential support has been presented to the Italian Senate, where politicians will debate the issue within weeks.

Industry observers have speculated that the bill is a conservative backlash against a resurgence of marketing activity following online gambling reforms which have implemented a more benevolent tax regime, and discussions with other European nations on player sharing instead of ring fencing individual national markets.

Legal experts have warned that curtailing advertising on gambling poses the danger of restricting legal operators from promoting and differentiating their product from that of unlicensed and often unsafe offshore websites.

They have pointed to a European Commission acknowledgement that advertising has an important role to play in persuading punters to use properly regulated and licensed operators.

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