EGBA and LOGiCO urge Italian MPs to oppose “counterproductive” ad ban

The European Betting and Gaming Association (EGBA) and the Italian egaming association LOGiCO have jointly authored a letter to Italian MPs calling on them to oppose the proposed blanket ban on gambling advertisements.

In the letter, the associations said the proposal to reduce gambling addiction was “noble and well-intentioned” but was not a “silver bullet” and will ultimately prove to be counterproductive.

Italian MPs will today debate the so-called ‘Dignity Degree’ in parliament, with widespread opposition from the egaming industry.

The EGBA and LOGiCO have called for the ban to be amended or removed from the decree entirely.

Instead of implementing the ban, the EGBA and LOGiCO call on the Italian parliament to debate ways in which vulnerable individuals and minors can be better protected from potentially harmful advertising, with an emphasis on “scientific studies and research”.

Both associations have stated a willingness to participate in this debate, speculating that a blanket ban will increase black market gambling as “Italian consumers will not be informed or directed to those websites that are licensed in Italy and away from those that are not – increasing the share of Italian customers accessing websites that are not licensed in Italy.”

EGBA Secretary General Maarten Haijer stressed the need for advertising in an effective gambling regulatory framework adding: “Advertising plays an important role in directing consumers to those gambling websites which are allowed and supervised by the Italian gambling regulator and adhere to local consumer protection laws.

“A blanket ban on gambling advertising will hurt Italian consumers by pushing them towards unregulated gambling websites that do not protect them.”