Court decision clears the way for an expansion of the Italian online gambling market


Court decision clears the way for an expansion of the Italian online gambling market
 
Reports from Italy inform that a decision by a court in Lazio this week has cleared the way for the introduction of online cash game poker and casino action to the lucrative Italian market, ending a six month legislative impasse.
 
The delay was triggered by litigation launched by the giant Italian network provider Microgame last June , which complained that the proposed AAMS regulations further opening up the Italian market differed substantively from those submitted to the European Commission for approval. This allegedly placed Microgame's 120 network members at a disadvantage, with additional costs of up to Euro 100 000 each.
 
This week the court ruled that the complaints had been addressed as early as July, when the AAMS resubmitted its draft law to the EC.
 
Observers note that AAMS will soon be in a position to move forward, with the possible introduction of the new gambling genres as early as Q1 2011.