Italian Online Gambling Ban Hots Up
Published: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 Online-Casinos.com
ITALIAN ONLINE GAMBLING BAN HOTS UP
Legal advice taken by Remote Gambling Association
The fight by UK online gambling companies against Italian government action banning online gambling by blocking sites from Italian ISPs seems to be gaining momentum.
News to hand this week is that the Remote Gambling Association (RGA), whose members include 888, Betfair and William Hill, is seeking legal advice after the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance approved a law to fine ISPs allowing gamblers to access offshore sites.
Under the Italian Finance Act 2006, which came in to force on 1 January, Italian internet service providers could be fined each time players are allowed to bet with a 'blacklisted' company.
To make the law effective with surprising speed, a number of decrees were passed earlier in Rome, requiring ISPs to block access to around 500 sites on pain of fines of up to GBP 120 000.
But three years ago, a European court ruled that member states are not allowed to block cross-border gambling services other than on grounds of moral objections. According to the RGA, the Italian decrees should have been approved by the EC prior to the law coming into effect.
The RGA has asked the EC to prevent the restrictions as it argues Italian consumers will suffer from reduced competition.
Thus far the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance has not commented on the RGA statement.
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