Italian govt. bans online betting

**oblomov** · 16th February 2006, 09:03 PM

I saw this link on the betfair forum.

http://www.theoffshorewire.com/articleView.aspx?AID=991

Apparently the Italian government is to block internet access to online gaming sites shortly.
Commiserations to Italian based punters. Perhaps the techies know a way around . Lets hope other states dont follow.
Incidentally, why doesnt the US do this,given their position on the subject?

List of banned sites:http://www.theoffshorewire.com/articleView.aspx?AID=990

**Casinomeister** · 16th February 2006, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by oblomov

Incidentally, why doesnt the US do this,given their position on the subject?...

Several reasons. One is that each state is guaranteed (US Constitution Amendment XIV??) that the federal government won't encroach on state laws. So it's more or less up to the states to handle this. On the other hand, if the Federal Government is going to impose a law on the general population, it has to go through the Congress, Senate, and then signed by the President. It hasn't gotten this far yet.

Also, citizens of the US are protected by first amendment rights - this covers "freedom of expression". To block websites would probably be deemed unconstitutional. Sorry Italy doesn't treat its citizens the same.

**GrandMaster** · 17th February 2006, 12:01 AM

The 14th Amendment is the one about citizenship, you are probably thinking of the 10th, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." The US government could prohibit or regulate online gambling under Section 8, Clause 3 of the Constitution, "The Congress shall have Power To .... regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes".

**Simmo!** · 17th February 2006, 09:57 AM

So where does that leave Italian language casinos like Colosseum and Roxy? Aimed at Italian ex-Pats?

**Casinomeister** · 17th February 2006, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by GrandMaster

The 14th Amendment is the one about citizenship, you are probably thinking of the 10th, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." The US government could prohibit or regulate online gambling under Section 8, Clause 3 of the Constitution, "The Congress shall have Power To .... regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes".

Thanks for the info. I should bone up on the US Constitution once again

**Casinomeister** · 17th February 2006, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Simmo!

So where does that leave Italian language casinos like Colosseum and Roxy? Aimed at Italian ex-Pats?

Well - when there is a will, there is a way.

But this should prove interesting since if they take players from Italy, they will probably be breaking Italian law.

This is really a very short sighted and uninformed response from the Italian lawmakers.

**GrandMaster** · 17th February 2006, 06:26 PM

Gambling is specifically exempted from the scope of the recently accepted EU services directive, so there will be no change to the current unclear situation.

Hungary is another EU member state that has been trying to crack down on online gambling (http://www.bbj.hu/?module=displaysto...76&format=html), and I seem to remember that Betandwin also had problems with its Hungarian operations.

**Simmo!** · 17th February 2006, 08:46 PM

Weird how some countries lik ethe UK are relaxing gambling laws even further and others take the opposite approach. I thought part of the appeal of a democracy was to be...whats the word..ah yes...democratic!

**paul02085** · 18th February 2006, 07:39 AM

The US is pushing its anti internet gaming bill again. Many here believe it will pass and become law this time around. What i read is that if passes U.S. ISP'ers will ban gambling sites and banks as well as neteller will be blocked from handling gambling transactions. I am very worried about this.

**Casinomeister** · 20th February 2006, 05:49 PM

UK gambling firms say no to Italian ban
UK gaming companies are threatening to take legal action against Italian regulators unless they reverse recent changes which outlaw access to gaming sites outside Italy.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/02...ban_challenge/

Looks like some people in the UK aren't happy with what the Italian gov't is trying to do.