Italy:Layout 1 01/09/2009 15:39 Page 16
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Betting: A growing business
The anti crisis executive
order is now law
I
f we put together two very typical Italian passions (football and betting)
you get currency13.5bn. This is the total amount of bets placed on football
matches in Italy in 2008. When you look at percentages, this means that
W
ith 166 votes in favour, 109 against and no abstentions, the Upper House
finally approved last Saturday morning the Executive Order no. 1724
out of those people who place bets on sporting events, 92.27% place bets
converting into law the anti crisis decree, and in addition extended terms and
on football.
participation by Italy to international missions. The order, already approved by the
This is a business that is in constant growth: according to estimates,
Lower Chamber, was passed on a vote of confidence called by the Government.
the total amount of bets on sporting events in 2009 should climb to
currency14.2bn, a 7.42% increase against currency13.9bn in 2008. It is clear that this is
part of a continuous trend: last year sporting bets had already recorded a
51% increase over 2007.
The public prosecutor in
One may ask where are the bets from football fans all concentrated?
The betting fever is all on the teams from Milan: the match between
Internazionale and A. C. Milan on 15th February attracted the most bets in
Rome opens an enquiry
Italy with currency15.5bn net takings. In second place was A. C. Milan -Juventus
(currency14.8bn of takings), in third place was Roma - A. C. Milan with currency14.7bn. Of
the ten matches most popular with punters, the Milan clubs are present in T
he Public Prosecutor’s office in Rome has opened a file to identify
whether there is a case for Sisal to answer on the charge of abuse of its
nine of them. dominant position in the market. The enquiry, opened without any
On a point of logic, people who place bets seem to react in a different assumption of crime or suspects, was started after a complaint was made by
way to football fans: proof of this is that Juventus appears in the table a consumers’ association following the preliminary Antitrust investigation in
just twice, and so do Roma and Lazio. order to ascertain whether Sisal prevents competitors from connecting to the
network for the purpose of running their businesses of taking bets on
numerical games on the tote, Superenalotto and Superstar.
The Bagni Di Lucca
casino is now open
R
eopened at last, the Casino of Bagni di Lucca, a well known spa in the
Versilia region. The opening ceremony took place yesterday, Saturday 8th
August at 9 p.m., with Mayor Giancarlo Donati in the chair. The introductory
press conference had taken place in the afternoon in the presence of ing.
Francesco Gatti (Bakoo spa), of Enzo Tintori and Gianfranco Bonanno, ANIT
Association General Secretary and Spokesman respectively, of Prof. Marcello
Cherubini representative of the Bagni di Lucca Council within ANIT and of
Giancarlo Donati, the City’s Mayor. The Conference Moderator was Maurizio
Brodo, from Jamma srl.
Among those in attendance was Massimo Tedeschi, Mayor of Salsomaggiore,
a spa resort and the next location for the second casino within the Kursal project
A casino in Rome
after the Bagni di Lucca Casino. Also in attendance were Nedo Poli and Fabio
Ranieri, Members of the Italian Parliament.
This is an electronic Casino, in which visitors may be able to play on slot
machines and electronic roulette. A croupier will still be there, but it will be a
A
Casino in the Capital City of Italy. This prospect cannot be ruled out. The virtual one, and poker and blackjack tables will still be available, in addition to
Mayor of Rome has been talking about it. “The proposal for a Casino in screens for horse racing. Everything will be rigorously automatic.
Rome was put forward by Federalberghi during the election campaign, and I do The Mayor was bound to emphasise that the Council hopes to derive economic
not think there is anything wrong with such an idea. I do not understand why benefits from this new business, not only because of the increase of the number
Italy is the only country without one, apart from four or five other countries», of tourists, but in particular from the rental of the premises of the Royal Casino in
said Gianni Alemanno, replying to the host of the radio programme «One day as Ponte a Serraglio, payable by Bakoo spa for the next five years. In the first year
a sheep.” As for the objections raised by those who believe that the opening of the rent will be currency1100,000, in the second year currency1120,000, and in the third, fourth
such an establishment would foster criminal activities, the Mayor of Rome has no and fifth years the rent will be currency1150,000. All the earnings from gaming will be for
hesitations: “I believe that organised crime will be restrained if it is administered the Bakoo account. Within the Casino a bar has been fitted out, and there the
by the State». The only qualm Sig. Alemanno has is the location of the future British ritual of a cup of tea at 5 o’clock will be re-enacted. In addition, a
gaming house. One thing is certain: it will not be in the centre of the Eternal City. sequence of museum exhibits has been created in the Lilies Rooms, with
«We were talking about Ostia or Anzio,” and “not in the city centre,” he said. yesteryear games on display.
Concluding with a criticism of so called supporters of ethical standards: “I do not After this inaugural evening the Casino will be open every day from 6 p.m. to 2
understand the self-righteousness of those who say ‘My God: a casino’ and then a.m. Everybody will be allowed in, but under age youngsters will not be allowed to
go spreading bingo halls all round Italy or bet on Superenalotto. I do not play and play. Identity documents will be checked at the entrance. In addition, a loyalty
I do not entertain gambling.” card will be introduced shortly for frequent visitors.
16
SEPTEMBER 2009
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