Italy’s new budget law sets out new taxes for operators of gaming machines and potentially legalises unlicensed internet betting shops.
According to trade association Sapar, the new law approved by the Italian government includes a new €500m tax contribution from the country’s AWP and VLT operators, an “amnesty” for those unregulated betting shops that do not currently pay tax and a new annual €50m fund to tackle gambling addiction.
Sapar claimed the move comes “without any consultation or constructive dialogue” with the industry’s trade associations. It also warned that the new law could have “serious consequences” for the industry.
The amendment “will make it impossible” for all the companies operating gaming machines to continue, forcing some to close, it said.
“The hope is that the association Sapar can establish as soon as possible a dialogue with the institutions to share our deep knowledge of the field of gaming machines, a manufacturing sector that creates jobs and [is a] legal source of tax revenue for the state,” it said.
