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Time for Italian Government's persecution of legitimate betting shops to come to an end

Mar 27, 2009 - Brussels

Time for Italian Government's persecution of legitimate betting shops to come to an end

In an article published in the Italian magazine Bet Ippica e Scommesse (27/03/09), Graham Wood outlined Stanleybet's decade-long battle with the Italian authorities to exercise its right to operate in the country.

Unlike other foreign operators such as Betshop, Eurobet and Goldbet, Wood highlighted how Stanleybet has continued its battle to operate on Italian soil, following the positive outcomes of the Gambelli and Placanica rulings.

The article also examined how Stanleybet challenged the Italian government on its decision to extend horse betting licences without prior consultation, obliging the authorities to initiate a new tender and withdraw the old licences. Similarly, when the Italian government attempted to award the Superenalotto contract without proper a tender, Stanleybet was the first company to take legal action, citing a breach of European law.

In Wood's opinion, the Italian government's persecution campaign against Stanleybet is unproductive and will ultimately lead nowhere. "Not everyone agrees with the bookmaker's activities", writes Wood. "However, in the absence of an actual crime, it is of no use to send policemen and carabinieri to close down betting shops which judges have already deemed legitimate".

Wood goes as far as to suggest that the time has come for over ten years of conflict to come to an end.

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