An operation named 'Gambling' and coordinated by Italy's Anti-Mafia Police led to the arrest of 41 individuals and the seizure of cash and assets for more than €2 billion on Wednesday, July 22.
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- What States Is Gambling Illegal
- Online Gambling Illegal Italy Attractions
- Examples Of Illegal Gambling
- How To Report Illegal Gambling
- Online Gambling Illegal Italy Vacation Packages
The Italian authorities have also seized 82 online gambling websites and froze the assets of 11 companies based in Malta, Austria, Romania, and Spain. The accusations moved against those arrested include money laundering and the creation of an international scheme aimed at avoiding the country's regulation on betting and gambling.
According to the Magistrate in charge of the preliminary investigation Caterina Catalano, the gambling and betting ring was used by Italy's Mafia-type criminal organization 'Ndrangheta to launder money and keep control of the territory through a network of over 500 betting agencies.
Italian authorities have arrested 11 people they say were running an illegal online gambling business which brought them millions of dollars in profits daily. Prosecutors say the group, which worked on occasion with organized crime, is behind an illegal gambling website which set up servers and management structures abroad. Italy: Gambling Laws and Regulations 2021. ICLG - Gambling Laws and Regulations - covers common issues in gambling laws and regulations – including relevant authorities and legislation, application for a licence, licence restrictions, digital media, enforcement and liability – in 37 jurisdictions.
One of the key figures in the operation is 38-year-old founder and CEO of BetUniQ, Mario 'Mariolino' Gennaro, a man known for his tight connections with the 'Ndrangheta organization.
Launched in Malta back in 2010 and operating with a legit license issued by the Malta Gaming Authority to its parent company Uniq Group Limited, BetUniQ has allegedly been used for years to launder money for 'Ndrangheta-affiliated businesses.
Initially focused on online gambling, the gambling hub has quickly expanded its business over the past years and opened over 500 gaming points throughout Italy, despite the company not possessing any license to offer gambling or betting services in the country. The authorities believe that Gennaro chose to base his business in Malta as the Island's regulation on gambling allowed him to avoid Italy's strict anti-mafia controls.
Italy's Gambling Industry In Turmoil
BetUniQ, however, is not the only operator affected by the operation, as the list of the companies involved in 'Ndrangheta-related operations includes some more big names in the industry.
As stated by the Italian authorities, the investigation included People's S.R.L and Microgame S.P.A, two well-known operators regularly licensed by the Italian gambling authority.
People's S.R.L, is the company that controls the People's Network, Italy's third-biggest poker network according to PokerScout data, which includes popular skins as People's Poker, Ballas, and BetItaly.
Microgame, on the other hand, is a company owned by private equity funds Texas Pacific Group and Monitor Clipper Partners, and by the company's founder Massimiliano Casella, which operates in the country with over 130 different brands and which claims to handle over 650,000 gaming accounts.
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At the time of writing, representatives from BetUniq, People's, and Microgame could not be reached, as the customer support of People's seemed to be inactive.
Here's a full list of the international companies whose assets were frozen by the Italian police on Wednesday:
| Company | Established in |
|---|---|
| UNIQ GROUP LIMITED | Malta |
| UNIQ SHOPPING LIMITED | Malta |
| TEBARAL HOLDING LTD | Malta |
| TEBARAL TRADING LTD | Malta |
| BETSOLUTION4U | Malta |
| FAST RUN LIMITED | Malta |
| UNIQ GROUP BUCHMACHER Gmbh | Austria |
| BE. UNIQ EST SRL | Romania |
| ZETA GAMING SRL | Romania |
| CROSSBIT SL. | Spain |
| MIROSPACE SL. | Spain |
Right after the police operation, a number of Italian poker players took to social media to report not being able to withdraw money from their gaming account due to 'technical issues.'
Be sure to follow the story on PokerNews as it develops.
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It's only recently that online betting in Italy has become legal and since the law changed in 2006 it's become one of the biggest markets in Europe.
Below we've got a list of the best betting sites for Italy and a run through of all the key laws and legislation's residents of the country need to know about.
Best Betting Sites For Italy:
The following is a list of the best betting sites for residents of Italy:
Key Facts: Online Gambling In Italy
- Most gambling illegal until new laws passed in 2006.
- Gambling and online betting now fully legal in Italy.
- Agenzia delle dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) is the sole state regulator and is responsible for issuing licences .
- Players are free to gamble with any licensed online betting site.
- Legal gambling age in the country is 18+.
Gambling Legislation & Law Timeline
As we have mentioned above, the process of fully legalising gambling in Italy came about mostly in the past decade. The following timeline traces the legislation involved in that process, as well as some notable pieces passed longer ago:
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November 20th 1948 – President Decree no.1677
One of the first pieces of legislation to legalise and regulate any form of gambling in Italy, the President Decree no.1677 did so for lotteries and related activities. Further decrees in a similar vein followed through the years in order to keep lotteries efficiently regulated.
January 31st 2000 – ADM Decree no. 29
Passed by the ADM regulatory body in early 2000, Decree no. 29 legalised bingo and other bingo formula in Italy and set out the framework by which the body would regulate and tax the activities.
December 30th 2004 – Law no. 311
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Passed in late 2004, so-called Law no. 311 was the piece of legislation setting down the legality and regulatory framework for horse racing betting in Italy. Law no. 248 was also passed in August 2006 to update the legislation.
March 1st 2006 – Decree no. 111
Whilst sports betting wasn't traditionally prohibited in the same way as other gambling activities in Italy, it was still strictly regulated and limited to state sponsored providers. Decree no. 111 passed in 2006 opened up the industry and made sports betting legal in a more recognisable form.
January 10th 2011 – ADM Director Decree
The ADM Director Decree of 2011 legalised almost all remaining forms of gambling in Italy. The specific activities mentioned under the decree were online casino games, online poker tournaments and games of chance and card games not organised as tournaments.
March 18th 2013 – ADM Director Decree no. 47
ADM Director Decree no. 47 of March 2013 officially legalised and set a regulatory framework for ‘remote fixed-odds betting on sporting and non-sporting events with direct interaction between gamblers'. In layman's terms this equates to exchange betting.
Are Players Taxed On Winnings?
Italy has a very well defined and fairly simply system of gambling taxation. Operators and providers are generally taxed according to their gross profits and at a different rate according to the form of gambling they provide. Sports betting providers, for instance, are taxed at 4.5% whilst casino game operators are subject to a 20% tax rate.
Most importantly, however, punters' winnings from gambling are exempt from income tax in Italy meaning that they are essentially tax free. The country did used to have legislation stating that winnings earned through providers outside of Italy weren't subject to the same tax exemption but this was deemed unlawful by the EU.
Examples Of Illegal Gambling
Recommended Deposit Methods
How To Report Illegal Gambling
Due to the fact that essentially all gambling is legalised, regulated and tax exempt in modern day Italy, there is no need for punters to consider issues of legality or taxation when it comes to their choice of deposit method.
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As such, it is only the general criteria of speed, security and ease which should enter into the equation. What that means is that depositing via credit or debit card is usually the most sensible method as it excels in all of those areas.
