06-07-2007 Italy places new restrictions on the activities of remote betting points

The Italian Court of Accounts approved a new decree law that ends the commission deals between remote betting points and licensed concessionaires. Effective 1 January 2008, the remote betting points will also be prohibited from taking cash bets and from actively promoting betting or assisting players in placing their online bets.

Leisure & Gaming, owner of Betshop Italia, which operates a franchised chain of over 1000 Betshop-branded betting points, welcomed the publication of the new decree law and said in a statement to the stock exchange that it believes this regulation will provide a more certain operating environment for the industry.

Although Betshop Italia does not take cash bets in its outlets, the company said it will update the market if it determines that the regulation will have a material impact on its business.