Italian regulator warns suppliers over 'unacceptable' behaviour
AAMS says gaming suppliers should stop unlicensed B2C customers from targeting Italian customers through the black market
Italy’s gambling regulator has called on online gaming providers to halt their “unacceptable” supply of games to unlicensed operators or risk being hit with new regulatory measures.
Last week, eGaming Review reported that Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (AAMS) was considering a move which would see online gaming providers required to apply for a remote gaming licence to help tackle the country’s black market.
AAMS head of remote gambling Francesco Rodano has since told eGR that although viewed as a last-resort, the option could move quickly up the agenda unless suppliers prevent their B2C customers from targeting Italy.
“Despite having regulated all the possible games, including slots, we estimate that more than 50% of the Italian online casino market is still channelled through unregulated operators, all offering the very same products provided by the usual suppliers,” Rodano said.
“Considering that those suppliers know very well which part of their Italian business is generated by dot.com and which by dot.it customers, this ‘double play’ seems fairly unacceptable and I suspect that the same could happen in other regulated jurisdictions, too.”
Rodano argued identical games are offered through both licensed and unlicensed operators with the latter group unhindered by tax, costs of compliance and other administrative burdens.
“This creates a competitive distortion that seriously puts the investments of the ‘legal’ operators at risk, and thus undermining the whole regulated market,” Rodano added.
If the plan is given the go-ahead, implementation could take place within the next 12 months.
This week’s poll asks if AAMS are right to request that suppliers police their customers?