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Italy, according to “The Poker News” report, has had an interesting relationship with online gaming. In February this year, the country tried to ban all IP addresses of online gaming sites - well over 600 in total - and then a few days later reportedly tried to set up an ‘exclusive’ relationship with an online poker room, allegedly in exchange for a slice of the pie.
In a complete about turn, Italy is now moving toward regulation of the industry. As of January 1, 2007, a new law comes into force whereby it will be legal for Italian citizens to gamble online. This will also clear the way for things like public sports betting and bingo halls.
The latest piece of legislation regulates all ‘ability based and fixed betting activities’. The Italian plan is apparently guided by the U.K. initiative when it comes to how the entities that do business in Italy are regulated. If a company does business with Italian customers, the government will stand to make a 3 percent tax on any gaming-based revenues acquired by the company.
Does this mean that gambling operators from around the world will be flocking to Italy to set up their businesses there? They could certainly choose some worse places! Whether this promising move will arrive in time to influence the approach of U.S. legislators who seem determined to ban online gambling, has yet to be seen.
During the past couple of weeks it has become increasingly clear that the U.S. Senate is unlikely to pass the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act in any form, either as a stand-alone bill, or whether attached to other legislation, before the Senate takes its election recess starting at the end of this week. History has shown that post-election ‘lame duck’ sessions of Congress are reluctant to discuss any proposed legislation that provides heated opposition, or especially complex issues attached to it.
But as far as Italy is concerned, it appears that from January 1st, 2007 Italian online gamblers will be able to legally play poker and other online games.
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