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Serie a Leads Negotiations of Italy's new Decree On Gambling Sponsorships

The Chamber of Deputies has started arguments at the Palazzo on whether to amend or annul the rules of the Dignity Decree of 2018, which bans gaming sponsorships in Italian sports.
The primary step toward revising the Dignity Decree follows the Senate's Culture Commission, which backed a March 5 resolution focused on assisting Italian football.
However, the Senate's recommendation does not relate to passing a law. Instead, it needs the Deputies to go over the impact of the Dignity Decree's sponsorship ban, which has actually been in effect since 2019.
For any changes to take impact, the government should identify the regards to a new decree, which will either annul or modify the gambling-related laws of the Dignity Decree. These laws were introduced by the brief Lega Nord and 5Star coalition government as a federal mandate.
As an outcome, negotiations have started on preparing new guidelines under a "Decree on Gambling Sponsorships." However, the scope of the decree will be restricted only to sponsorships and will not consist of changes to the more comprehensive betting marketing restriction or other betting restrictions imposed by the Dignity Decree.
The first phase of negotiations will be led by Minister Maurizio Leo, Deputy Minister of the Economy and Finance, along with Sports Minister Andrea Abodi. They are set to fulfill Serie A league authorities, led by newly chosen President Ezio Simonelli.
Since 2019, Serie A football clubs have criticised the federal application of the Dignity Decree, arguing that it bypassed legal requirements. The decree is approximated to have cost the football market a minimum of EUR100 million annually, with clubs having a hard time to contend economically with Europe's top leagues.
The negotiations for a new decree are viewed as an early test for Ezio Simonelli as the brand-new President of Serie A. Italy's top football league is presently facing a financing crisis, with clubs reporting a total income decrease of EUR350 million for the 2023/2024 season.
League authorities have actually required a review of Serie A's monetary model, which they deem unsustainable due to high gamer incomes, increasing club debt, and insufficient investment in youth advancement.
The fragile state of Italian football has been acknowledged by Sports Minister Abodi, who intends to present a new sponsorship decree that consists of a "1% betting allocation fee." This fee would be used to update Italian football stadiums, support women's soccer, and enhance grassroots facilities and youth systems.
The mandate to review the Dignity Decree has received prevalent support in the Chamber of Deputies, where ministers have recognized the decree's failure to safeguard Italian consumers from prohibited gambling.
However, regardless of its favorability, the decision has actually been slammed by the 5Star Movement and the Democratic Party (DP). Additionally, Catholic associations have actually voiced their opposition through national media outlets.