Under Article 8 of the piece of legislation, all forms of advertising of gambling products and services across all media outlets, including television, radio, and the Internet as well as during sporting, cultural, and entertainment events, will be prohibited from next year. Sponsorships of football and other sports clubs will also be prohibited under the newly approved decree.
The measure has been promoted by Minister Di Maio and his office as one that would help Italy reduce problem gambling rates in the country.
The promotion of products provided by national lotteries will be excluded from the ban. And under a provision that was tacked onto the main decree ahead of the Council of Ministers vote, existing advertising contracts will also be excluded from the ban until their date of expiration.
Italian Ministers explained that the language was included so that gambling companies are given enough time to prepare for the ban.
Italy has thus become the first European country to completely ban gambling advertising. Minister Di Maio has previously said that if the Council of Ministers approved his measure and if the ban took effect, he would use his influence to lobby for the introduction of heavier gambling advertising restrictions across the European Union.
Source: GMB / Casino News Daily
