Gambling in Italy is an
85-billion-euro business, with 708,000 gamblers classified as
addicts and one slot machine for every 150 residents in the
country, according to statistics released Friday by Genoa's
Anti-Gaming Council on the occasion of the city's second-annual
Gambling Addiction Awareness Day.
"Gambling affects the weakest sectors of society and it
must be fought with awareness campaigns rather than bans," said
Hon. Lorenzo Basso, coordinator of the parliamentary intergroup
on gaming.
"Up until now the State has considered tax revenues, but
the fact is that gambling weakens the national economy, because
it decreases purchasing power," Basso said.
Basso's parliamentary intergroup is advocating legislation
that would prohibit gaming advertising, require local entities
to conform to regulations, prohibit the State from using gaming
proceeds to fund social services, and put a moratorium on new
types of gaming.
Genoa was the first metropolitan city in Italy to introduce
regulations on gaming halls, under legislation brought forth by
the region of Liguria.
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