Italy legalized offline and online sports betting at a time when gambling was heavily restricted in other European countries. By 2011, it had legalized casino and poker games. But its gambling laws are complicated and restrictive when compared to the gambling laws in other EU countries such as Sweden and Denmark. Moreover, Italy plans to impose more restrictions on its online gambling industry in the near future.
The Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS), the regulatory authority in Italy, grants licenses for online gambling activities in Italy. Operators have to obtain an AAMS license to run online gambling businesses in Italy. The AAMS licenses games of skill, poker tournaments, cash poker games, casino games, bingo, sports betting, and horse betting.
However, the AAMS can give away only a limited number of licenses and the Italian government intends to reduce this number to 50 by 2023. Each license costs €2 million and will remain valid for nine years, with effect from 2023. The AAMS will start processing license applications either in 2021 or 2022. In the meantime, Italians who would prefer Curacao-licensed casinos instead of AAMS-licensed casinos and online bookmakers, find so-called siti non AAMS.
When we compare the online gambling laws of Denmark, Sweden, and Italy, we feel that Italian laws are the most restrictive. Even Sweden has recently imposed interim gambling laws to curb the sudden rise in online gambling among its residents. The aim is to protect residents from gambling harm. Of the three gambling markets, Denmark appears to be the most liberal.
Let us now have a look at the gambling laws in Denmark and Sweden.
Denmark Online Gambling Laws
The Danish Gambling Authority, an executive body answerable to the Danish Ministry of Taxation, makes sure that the country’s gambling market is licensed and well-regulated and that Danish players are protected from illegal gambling, problem gambling, unfair gambling practices, and other forms of gambling harm.
The following are the duties of the Danish Gambling Authority:
- Administer and enforce gambling laws
- Issue licenses to providers of gambling services
- Supervise gambling operators
- Monitor the gambling industry
- Ensure responsible gambling
- Provide advisory services
- Foster international cooperation
The Danish Gambling Authority was established in 2000. Today, it employs more than 100 people in its Odense office and 20 more at its offices in Jutland and Copenhagen.
Online casinos are licensed and regulated in Denmark. Danish players can legally play online casino games such as blackjack, roulette, Punto Banco, baccarat, poker, bingo, slots, video pokers, and games that combine skill and chance.
Any operator desiring to offer online casino gaming services in Denmark ought to apply for an online gambling license from the Danish Gambling Authority. Each license remains valid for five years. Players can play at online casinos uden Nemid (without Nemid) with MGA or Curacao license. But gaming operators are prohibited to advertise such services in Denmark.
Operators have to pay an application fee of DKK 285,800 while submitting their application for a license. Operators applying for a combined license to offer sports betting as well as online casino gaming have to pay an application fee of DKK 400,100.
Danish Gaming Act: The major gambling law in Denmark is the Danish Gaming Act. The following are the various aims and objectives of this piece of legislation:
- Partially liberalize and modernize Denmark’s gambling market
- Maintain moderation in gambling participation
- Protect vulnerable groups such as minors and problem gamblers
- Create a fair, responsible, and transparent gambling market
- Keep gambling free from criminal activities
As per the provisions of the Danish Gambling Act, the Danish Ministry of Taxation is directly responsible for gambling supervision. The enforcement of this law led to the establishment of the Danish Gambling Authority, the country’s gambling regulator. The law protects Danish players from unlicensed gambling sites.
The Danish Gambling Authority also protects players from gambling harm in the following ways:
ROFUS: This is a register of self-excluded players. You may register your name in the ROFUS and exclude yourself from gambling sites licensed in Denmark either temporarily or permanently. You can do so through NemID or through form number 9-01.
StopSpillet: StopSpillet is an organization that provides support for problem gamblers. If you feel that you have become a problem gambler, you can call StopSpillet on the number +45-70-22-28-25 from Monday to Thursday, between 9:00 and 21:00 and on Friday, between 9:00 and 17:00.
Citizens of Denmark can also report illegal gambling activities to the Danish Gambling Authority.
Gambling in Sweden
The Swedish Gaming Inspectorate ensures that all gambling activities in the country are conducted in a safe, reliable, and legal way. The authority protects Swedish players and takes the required steps to curb gambling harm. Three major laws govern the activities of the Swedish Gaming Inspectorate:
- The Swedish Gambling Act
- The Act on the Organization of Certain Slot Machines
- Anti money-laundering and anti terrorist financing laws
Operators of gambling services may obtain six different types of gambling licenses in Sweden:
- State Game:The authority grants this license only to a company owned directly or indirectly by the state. Currently, the only company that can obtain the state game license is the Svenska Spel.
- Public Benefit Games:Non-profit organizations and religious communities may obtain this license to conduct games to raise funds for a worthy cause.
- Commercial Online Gambling:Anybody can apply for this license to offer online bingo, online slots sites, and online casinos.
- Betting:Anybody can apply for this license to offer sports betting and horse betting services.
- Land-based Commercial Games:Anybody can apply for this license to offer land-based casinos and poker tournaments.
- Games on Ships:Anyone can apply for this license to offer casino games on ships.
At the time of writing, Sweden is worried about the sudden rise in online casino spending among its citizens. In the absence of sports betting due to Covid-19, Swedish players are turning to online casinos in large numbers. The government has, therefore, decided to introduce new online gambling laws for the rest of 2020.
The new laws make it mandatory for Swedish players to impose gaming session limits. Also, they cannot deposit more than SEK 5000 per week. Also, operators cannot offer bonuses exceeding SEK 100 to Swedish players.
