Italy: the end of gambling advertising concerns the football, basketball and volleyball leagues

"The Lega Serie A, Lega Serie B, and the Basketball and the Volleyball Serie A Leagues, men's and women's, unanimously express their concern over the impact that the ban on advertising and sponsorship from the gaming and betting will have on the revenues and resources of Italian sports, professional and amateur, and they ask to participate in the process of reorganisation of the gaming industry,", declare these Leagues in a joint statement on 07/08/2018, regarding the adoption by the Italian Parliament of Decree No. 87 of 2018, the so-called "dignity decree".

This text became law in Italy after its adoption by the Chamber of Deputies on 02/08/2018, and then by the Senate on 07/08/2018. It contains, in particular, provisions designed to combat gambling addiction: it is thus prohibited, from 01/01/2019, any form of direct or indirect advertising for gaming or betting which results in monetary winnings, with the exception of the Italian National Lottery and local gaming or betting.

The total turnover of the gaming and betting industry in Italy has increased from €20bn to €97bn…