“With reference to public gaming – a sector characterized by specific complexities also due to the regulatory methods and the concession and authorization regime on which it is based – the Agency (of Customs and Monopolies ed), pending the implementation by the delegated Legislator, with a view to a general reorganization of the matter, of the directives provided by the art. 15 of the aforementioned Law no. 111/2023, will direct its work by enhancing the areas of action defined in the tax delegation". This is what we read in the document (PIAO) adopted by the Customs and Monopolies Agency in recent days. Particular attention was paid to the treatment of the corruption risk associated with some sectors of activity, including the gaming sector, through the adoption of specific measures.
With regards to gaming, “the measures aimed at guaranteeing full protection of the most vulnerable subjects and preventing gambling disorders and underage gaming will be strengthened, also in collaboration with the other authorities responsible for preventing and combating illicit gaming. Also for these purposes, particular attention will be paid, in the issuing of licenses and concessions, to the subjective and honorable requirements of the applicants, to the correct territorial location of the businesses, collaborating, in this planning activity, with local authorities. The Agency will also pay maximum attention to the qualification and definition of the roles and responsibilities of the amusement machine certification bodies, in order to create a collaborative relationship based on clear and shared rules between financial administration, dealers and certification bodies. ”.
An integral and substantial part of the Agency's PIAO, as mentioned, are the specific measures for treating the corruption risk associated with some sectors of activity.
“The extremely technical and specialized nature of all control activities relating to customs, gaming and excise duties - including the smoking products supply chain - means that it is not always easy to identify any incorrect behaviour; this makes it appropriate to also adopt further prevention measures. The extremely technical and specialized nature of all control activities relating to customs, excise duties and gaming constitutes a risk factor as the subject subjected to controls may not be fully aware of their obligations and rights, due to a legislation that is often not easy to interpret.
In terms of gaming, the Agency already makes use of the Integrated Control System (ICS), through which all the information of interest is recorded to allow the Agency's structures to evaluate the elements useful for identifying risk situations as well as the monitoring of data relating to verification and control activities relating to public gaming. The implementation of the aforementioned system with other applications in use makes it possible to trace the administrative and tax sanctions imposed and the recoveries of assessed taxes also for the purpose of monitoring the implementation times of the interventions.
Further measures are listed below:
