Italy: let battle commence
A major obstacle to the launch of cash poker and casino in Italy has been removed, argues DLA Piper's senior associate Giulio Coraggio.
The seemingly neverending saga of the Italian decree regulating cash poker games and casino games seems to be over. As reported by eGaming Review, the Administrative Court of Lazio Region rejected the claim brought by Microgame, one of the major Italian gaming network operators, against the decree.
Indeed, earlier this year, the Administrative Court of Lazio Region had ordered the temporary suspension of the efficacy of decree because of the alleged inconsistency between the decree notified to the European Commission and the one subsequently approved by the Italian Gaming Authority (AAMS).
Pending the temporary suspension of the decree, AAMS re-notified the decree together with all its technical specifications to the European Commission and the court determined as such that a second notification has actually “cured” the challenged defect. Microgame has since decided not to appeal. This now removes all obstacles to the launch of cash poker and casino in Europe’s largest egaming market.
This is very good news for the current operators that have awaited the launch of such new games for more than a year, but it is also good news also for new entrants to the Italian market that will shortly be able to apply for an Italian remote gaming licence.
However, despite the expected publication on the Italian Official Gazette of the new version of the decree in the next few days, it is likely that the launch of casino games and cash poker games will not occur before the end of first quarter of 2011. Indeed, also the current licensed operators shall first upgrade their license to the requirements prescribed by the new licensing regime and then go through a technical authorisation process before being able to start offering such games to Italian players.
This means that new entrants to the market might have the time to obtain an Italian remote gaming licence and launch these new games at the same time as current operators, and without suffering major competitive disadvantage.
The beginning of next year should represent a new stage for the Italian online gaming market, both with new games and new players. Such circumstances, together with the consequential expected doubling of the turnover of the market, are likely to attract the attention of the entire gaming world.