LeoVegas submits formal EU complaint over Italian advertising ban

Operator LeoVegas has submitted a formal complaint to the European Union (EU) about the Dignity Decree.

The policy, which includes a blanket ban on all gambling advertising and sponsorships within Italy, has been the subject of criticism and opposition from the betting industry.

However, the Italian government has stood firm without engaging in any dialogue with the Dignity Decree’s detractors.

In an exclusive interview with Gambling Insider in August, LeoVegas Italy Managing Director Niklas Lindahl branded the legislation “insane” and stated that it goes against EU law.

Now, LeoVegas has taken its complaint to the next stage, formally submitting it to the EU in the hope of overturning the policy within the next six to 12 months.

Interestingly, combined revenue for retail and online sports betting in September was €139.6m ($161.4m), a year-on-year increase of 19%.

But it remains to be seen how revenue is affected by the Dignity Decree, with the advertising and sponsorship ban coming into effect on 1 January 2019.

Topics
Legal & Regulatory
Stay updated with GI
Follow Gambling Insider for independent news, analysis and industry expertise.
Tim Poole
Editor

Tim Poole was the Editor of Gambling Insider and a seasoned journalist with extensive experience covering the global gambling, sports betting and iGaming industries. In his role, Tim oversaw editorial direction, content strategy and quality across Gambling Insider’s print and digital platforms, ensuring the publication delivers authoritative news, analysis and insight to a professional B2B audience.

Visit Profile

Gambling Insider delivers the latest industry news, in-depth features, and operator reviews that you can trust. Our team combines rigorous editorial standards with decades of specialized expertise to ensure accuracy and fairness. We are committed to delivering clear, impartial, and dependable coverage across the global gambling sector.

More News