In a recent interview, Giorgio Tino, director general of gaming authority AAMS, said the gaming sector in Italy is making an increasingly important contribution to country’s economy, with Italy’s successful licensing system now one to be followed by other European countries. Developing the online sector and enhancing player protection standards are now at the top of the regulatory agenda.

After six years overseeing the transformation of Italy’s betting sector, Giorgio Tino, now freed of the restrictions placed on him by his former role as boss of AAMS, has weighed up the successes and failures of the regime that is now in place. He pulled no punches when describing the shortcomings of the regulator and the gambling opponents inside Parliament.

A new decree, which will choke off commission deals and limit transactions to credit cards only, will see Italian regulators eradicate the thousands of street corner outlets which support internet betting operators in Italy.

Although the ‘black-slot’ scandal appears to be quieting down, Italian authorities and betting operators, notably Stanley and Betfair, continue to be locked in heated discussions at European, national and local levels.

The EU’s executive body has threatened to fine Italy over its delayed retendering of 329 horserace betting licences, while the Commission has also begun a formal investigation into part state-owned gambling monopoly OPAP’s role in the awarding of a technology contract in Greece.

Liverpool-based bookmaker StanleyBet international scored a victory in the Placanica case but new license holders are keen to bury the past and move on.

It’s official: this summer Italy will see a new bid process for the 329 betting shop licences that were - according to the EU - extended unfairly in 1999 in a procedure that bypassed the tender of that year.

April numbers for gaming turnover in Italy once again emphasised a story of continuing growth in the sector, prompting the head of the AAMS regulatory authority to debut new measures aimed at revitalising the failing horseracing betting market.

Italian authorities are said to be bracing themselves for significant fines from the EU following their decision to withdraw and modify their plans for new betting shop licences, as required by a previous European court ruling over disputed horseracing licences.

On the eve of another major European Court of Justice (ECJ) decision, the legal status of the unauthorised betting outlets that provoked the Gambelli and Placanica ECJ cases is continuing to haunt the Italian authorities.