Bingo in Italy:a false start

ONLINE bingo was launched in Italy at the end of December 2009, attracting a considerable number of players who were finally able to play their favourite Christmas game, the ‘Tombola’, through their computers.

However, according to the administrative court of the Lazio region, online bingo operators have to take a break. The approval of the decrees regulating online bingo have been found not compliant with the formalities required by Italian law, the court has ruled.

To be honest, however, bingo games in Italy had already been having a hard time.

Indeed, the administrative court of Lazio region had identified the same procedural defects back in October 2009 in relation to the decrees introducing the so called ‘interconnected offline bingo,’ i.e. the procedure of allowing bingo halls to interconnect their players.

As a consequence of the first of the two decisions mentioned, the offer of online bingo is likely to be interrupted until ““ or, perhaps, ‘if’ – either the Court of Appeal overturns the decision of the administrative court, or the Italian Gaming Authority decides to re-issue the same decrees obtaining the required approvals and reviews.

Such bad news might represent an advantage for new entrants in the Italian bingo market.

If current bingo operators have to interrupt the offer of online bingo until at least April 2010, new operators will have the time to set up their business in Italy to be ready for online bingo’s second launch.

Sometimes there is good news in bad.