Italy’s World Cup fiasco boosts calls to end gambling ad ban

(AsiaGameHub) –   Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has commissioned an investigation into the management and financial structures of Italian football.

Italy.- The repercussions of Italy’s inability to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup may inadvertently aid the nation’s gaming industry, despite the prospect of reduced betting volume during the event. Following the Azzurri’s qualifying loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which eliminated the team from the tournament hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada, there have been renewed demands to repeal Italy’s prohibition on gambling advertisements and sponsorships.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has initiated an official probe into the governance and financial health of Italian football. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has become the primary target of scrutiny, leading to the resignation of president Gabriele Gravina on April 2 under government pressure. His exit was accompanied by the departures of former delegation head Gianluigi Buffon and head coach Gennaro Gattuso.

In the wake of public and media backlash, lawmakers are increasingly acknowledging that Italian sports are grappling with a persistent lack of funding. The underwhelming performance of Serie A teams in European tournaments this season, highlighted by the early exits of clubs such as Inter Milan, has further underscored this decline.

Gravina had previously criticized the government for failing to act on measures aimed at restoring financial stability, which include overturning the 2018 Dignity Decree that outlawed gambling commercials in Italy. He had also championed a “right to bet” scheme, designed to funnel a portion of gambling proceeds into football infrastructure, youth development, and grassroots initiatives.

He contended that the Dignity Decree failed to curb gambling-related harm while simultaneously stripping clubs of essential revenue, placing them at a competitive disadvantage against their European counterparts. Opponents of the decree estimate that it has resulted in a loss of up to €1bn in potential sponsorship income for Italian football.

Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi introduced a draft decree last July proposing the removal of the ban on sports gambling sponsorships, though movement on the issue has been sluggish. While new regulations for Italian online gambling licenses were implemented late last year, long-delayed reforms for land-based gambling are anticipated to be finalized later this year following extensive discussions.

Although Gravina was scheduled to submit his reform agenda to the Chamber of Deputies’ Culture Committee, his resignation has left the future of these proposals uncertain.