“There are 22.576 businesses checked during 2022 in the gaming sector and the territorial coverage index, i.e. the ratio between the number of businesses checked and those registered on the ADM systems, is equal to 22,18%. This is the data that emerges from the inspection activity carried out by the Customs and Monopolies Agency reported in the «Blue Book» recently published. Moreover, in Italy the activities of organization and exercise of games and betting are reserved, by law, to the State (Legislative Decree 14 April 1948, n. 496. Editor's note), with the aim of protecting public order and safety , combat organized crime, protect against the risk of fraud, as well as safeguard minors and the weakest individuals from the spread of uncontrolled, indiscriminate and ruleless gambling. For this reason, the offer of legal games, the exercise of which is subject to a specific concession, authorisation, license or other authorization, is subject to constant controls by ADM". This is what she writes Italian Federation of Tobacconists in a note.
“For some years – continues the FIT – the fight against illegal gaming has also been implemented thanks to CoPReGI – the Committee for the prevention and repression of illegal gaming, gaming safety and the protection of minors – chaired by the Agency and which also includes the Department of Public Security, the General Command of the Guardia di Finanza and the General Command of the Carabinieri. Over the three-year period 2020-2022, the growing trend in the number of checks was also dictated by a slow return to the verification activities of the pre-pandemic period. From a comparison between 2021 and 2022, according to the data published by the Agency, an increase of 21,57% is observed in the number of businesses checked, while the number of administrative violations and the number of inspections increased, respectively , 3,75% and 3,17%. For 2022, the activities to control and combat tax evasion led to the assessment of 448,72 million euros, recording a decrease of 34,84% compared to the previous year. However, the decreasing trend in the number of sanctions imposed continues, decreasing by 12,35% compared to 2021.
Obviously - the FIT highlights - these are data that affect all gaming sectors, taking into account that the ADM checks are carried out on dealers, points of sale, on the web, on platforms, on systems and on the different types of appliances. But, from what we learn, the monitoring of legal gaming continued apace in the year just ended. In fact, according to what was recently reported by Mario Lollobrigida, Games Director of the Customs and Monopolies Agency, "during 2023, 27.000 checks and 12.000 specific checks to combat underage gaming were carried out". The latter data certifies the growing effort to combat illegality and make public gaming increasingly safer", concludes the FIT.
