The European Gaming and Betting Association has become involved in the plan by the Italian authorities to ban gambling advertising.
The association has warned that it would not be practical to have a total ban “because of the cross-border nature of the internet and television.” It said that Italians would continue to see gambling advertising, except that those ads will advertise websites that are not licensed in Italy,” said the organisation.
It continued: “One of the important benefits of gambling advertising is that it directs Italian customers towards those gambling operators who are licensed to operate and comply with the rules in Italy. Without advertising, black market gambling will increase – with customers accessing websites that are not licensed in Italy and operate outside the regulated framework, including the legal protective safeguards for consumers. No other country in Europe currently bans gambling advertising precisely for this very reason.”
