'Niente' Say UK Online Gambling Groups
Published: Monday, February 20, 2006 Online-Casinos.com
'NIENTE' SAY UK ONLINE GAMBLING GROUPS
Italian moves to curtail online gambling criticised
The Italian government could be faced with some tough opposition to its recent
decision to clamp down on online gambling through internet service providers
(ISPs) judging by the hostile reaction to the announcement by major UK online gambling
groups who are members of the Remote Gambling Association (RGA)
The Register reports this week that UK gaming companies are threatening to take
legal action against Italian regulators unless they reverse recent changes which
outlaw access to gaming sites outside Italy.
Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance recently unveiled a law threatening to
fine any Italian ISP which allows access to a list of gambling sites.
Last November the RGA pushed out a press release objecting to the at that time
proposed changes, which are claimed to breach five categories of EC rules. Since
then individual members of the RGA have been developing a dialogue with the Italians
in attempts to head off a confrontation and possible legal action, but the RGA
is likely to review its options at the end of this month following the latest
Italian moves.
European Commission laws allow governments to restrict cross-border services on
genuine moral grounds, but not due to external competition.
