Snaitech CEO: Italy’s gambling ad ban a “failure”

Snaitech CEO Fabio Schiavolin has labelled Italy’s gambling advertising ban a “failure” and said its implementation has led to the growth of the illegal black market.

The Dignity Decree, which came into effect in July 2019, introduced a wide-ranging ad ban across TV, radio and digital, as well as in-stadia advertising.

Gambling sponsorships in football were also targeted in the legislation.

Schiavolin, who has led Snaitech since December 2015, witnessed the transition first-hand and has now spoken out against the Decree and its knock-on effects for the industry.

Speaking on a panel concerning sports law at an event organised by Class Editori¸ Schiavolin said the Decree was “prohibitionist” in its actions.

He said: “The introduction of an outright ban on the promotion of lawful gambling has proved to be a failure. The Dignity Decree has arrived in tackles on the betting sector, in a prohibitionist form instead of government of the phenomenon, without taking into account the guidelines of the Institute of Advertising Self-Discipline and the Balduzzi [Decree].”

Schiavolin went on to state there was no tangible evidence to show gambling-related harm was related to the prevalence of gambling advertising and that the Dignity Decree had boosted the black market.

He said: “There is no proven correlation between distorting gaming behaviours and advertising communication of bets. The Higher Institute of Health itself says that 80% of consumers are not driven to play by advertising. The measure, therefore, is not appropriate to the objective.

“It is very serious, however, that by completely eliminating the promotion of the legal game, illegal gambling has been promoted and the supply chain that actually carries out market control and management has been penalised,” he added.