Italian Democratic Party deputies Stefano Vaccari and Virginio Merola have backed a proposal to extend the country’s ban on gambling communications.
The bill, originally put forward by Lega deputy Silvana Comaroli, aims to prohibit all forms of commercial communication promoting gambling products that offer cash prizes. Italy’s political landscape is showing rare cross-party alignment.
Vaccari and Merola said they support the measure, citing public health objectives and concerns around gambling-related harm.
The two Democratic Party deputies issued a statement: ‘’On issues like these, we have said since the beginning of the legislature that there should be no party divisions, but rather a sense of institutional responsibility, balance and accountability.
‘’For this reason, despite political differences, we believe it is right to support initiatives that serve the general interest of the country. ‘’
In contrast, Serie A Football clubs are calling for a review or abolition of the Dignity Decree to relax rules on gambling advertising and sponsorships.
The Dignity Decree, introduced in 2018, imposed a blanket ban on gambling advertising.
Several club executives argue that the current rules put Serie A at a competitive disadvantage compared to other European leagues, where betting sponsorship and partnerships are common.
The clubs also propose allocating a fixed percentage of betting turnover to football. This includes a 1% levy on bets placed on football events.
Italy is preparing to soon advance a decree creating a unified national framework for land-based gambling, addressing the fragmentation across regions.
The upcoming Italian land-based gambling reform aims to harmonise rules on operating hours, venue locations and concessions
