Italy to Launch Ambitious Anti-Gambling Firewall

Italy will deploy an ambitious project meant to protect consumers from illegal gambling websites automatically.

The project, pitched by the Ministry of Economy and Finance as part of its budget proposals, will seek to filter Internet traffic going to websites that are not regulated by the national gambling watchdog, the Customs and Monopolies Agency.

Protecting Italian Gamblers by Blocking Illegal Websites

The Customs and Monopolies Agency will deploy the SOGEI solution, which is state-owned, that will automatically flag and filter illegal gambling domains, giving Italians peace of mind when navigating the Internet, or at least that is the original design of the solution.

“The software will be available for download to all operators and authorities, creating a national safeguard against illegal gaming domains,” local media outlets explained.

While some have expressed fear over the overreaching hand of the state, supporters of the idea, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance, have argued that by targeting offshore websites specifically, licensed businesses have a better chance of thriving, and consumers can be fully protected from pernicious and rogue operators.

With Italy now issuing a license for $8.2 million per permit, and 46 applications already processed at this price, there is a strong incentive to ensure that the total gambling spending stays in the market.

More Changes, Including Advertising, Planned for the Market

Apart from seeking to ban illegal gambling websites, the government is strengthening safeguards that relate to advertising and marketing.

These new rules that are due later in the year are not meant to harm licensed operators, but to establish a clearer framework for how companies may advertise to reach players. The government is similarly looking closer at exploring other technical improvements for both the online and land-based gambling sectors, with more changes forthcoming.