Italian financial police have seized a betting shop in central Vibo Valentia after uncovering alleged remote betting activity conducted through WhatsApp.
The Guardia di Finanza said the inspection began as an administrative check linked to anti-money laundering compliance, before officers identified a business mobile phone allegedly used to manage customer betting requests and gaming account top-ups.
Further checks found what investigators described as a systematic practice of collecting and placing bets for third parties through the gaming account of the operating business, rather than through individual player accounts.
Italian authorities said the conduct amounted to unauthorised intermediation in the collection of bets, an offence under current rules even where activity is connected to an authorised concessionaire.
The investigation also found that the venue allowed top-ups of gaming accounts held by third parties. One account was allegedly linked to a repeat offender with connections to organised crime.
Officers seized the premises and the mobile phone as evidence and precautionary measures. Those responsible were reported to the judicial authority.
The case reflects a recurring enforcement concern in Italy, where regulators and police have focused on both physical betting venues and digital channels used to bypass formal account controls.
The Guardia di Finanza states that its gambling enforcement work covers both land-based and online activity, including checks on unauthorised sites, illegal betting collection and criminal infiltration in the sector.
It also identifies gambling as an area attractive to criminal organisations due to profit opportunities, money laundering risks and the possibility of strengthening territorial control.
The seizure comes during a broader period of regulatory change in Italy. ADM has continued blocking unauthorised gambling domains, while Italy’s online gambling framework has moved towards fewer licences, higher entry costs and tighter compliance standards.
Italy’s advertising restrictions have also remained under review, with debate continuing over whether the rules have weakened licensed operators’ ability to direct players towards regulated channels.
In May 2026, Global Gaming Insider reported that illegal online gambling in Italy is estimated to generate around €20bn ($23.5bn) annually, according to the Observatory on Illegal Online Gambling at Data Room Nexus.
The study identified 4.5 million users and more than 13 million accesses in Q1 2026, while also pointing to social media platforms as key channels for illegal gambling advertising.
ADM has blocked more than 500 unauthorised gambling domains in 2026, with more than 12,000 portals blocked since 2019
