Senate pushes through reform of ‘Dignity Decree’, allowing clubs to promote bookmakers to mitigate financial losses

Full article

Italy closer to the return of betting advertising in football

The Italian Senate has taken a key step towards allowing sports clubs to return to advertising bookmakers, removing a restriction that has been in place since 2018. The measure is part of the reform pushed by Giorgia Meloni's government with the aim of alleviating Italian football's financial losses in recent years.

The proposal seeks to amend the ‘Dignità Decree’, a regulation that bans all advertising related to gambling in any medium. This reform, backed by the government majority, responds to pressure from clubs and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), which estimate annual losses of around 100 million euros due to the ban.

Impact on Italian football: more revenue for clubs

When the reform is approved in parliament, where the government has an absolute majority, teams will be able to advertise bookmakers in their stadiums, social networks and official jerseys. This would be a significant financial relief for clubs, which have been calling for new sources of revenue following the economic crisis that has hit Italian football in recent years.

However, the measure has generated strong controversy, especially from the opposition and organisations fighting against gambling.

Criticism and concerns about problem gambling

The 5 Star Movement (M5S), the party behind the ‘Dignity Decree’, has been one of the main opponents of the reform. Luca Pirondini, M5S senator, has accused the government of benefiting the interests of the gambling industry to the detriment of the population:

‘Gambling is being promoted and further impoverishing Italian families. Today's vote was in favour of the gambling lobby and the billionaire Serie A clubs, ignoring warnings from organisations such as Caritas, which denounce that gambling moves about 85 billion euros a year in losses for Italian households,’ Pirondini said.

Government defends the right to gamble

Despite the criticism, sports minister Andrea Abodi has defended the measure, saying that the government does not support gambling, but recognises the right to gamble.

‘We want to combat gambling addiction, but we must also recognise people's right to gamble. Part of the revenue from gambling could be used for social welfare,’ Abodi explained.

The reform bill is not only limited to the advertising of bookmakers. In total, it includes 19 additional measures, including streamlining the bureaucracy for the construction and renovation of stadiums and a prize system for clubs with healthy balance sheets.

With parliamentary approval virtually assured, Italy is on track to bring back football betting advertising, reopening a debate on the balance between the financing of sport and the fight against gambling addiction.