Recent comments by EU Internal Markets tsar Charlie McCreevy, which seemed more intent on attacking the Italian government licensing policies than criticising the activities of Stanley International, have sparked a renewed war of words between the main trade association representing Italian licensed operators and the Liverpool bookmaker.

Italian regulatory authorities have sent their new law on internet gaming to the EU for approval before it comes into force, and while the details indicate a slight softening of the expected rules, the timescale of the consultation means the new licenses will not be active in time for the Euro 2008 football championship this summer.

Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance will award the country's new Superenalotto lottery licence by the beginning of December, with their way cleared by yesterday’s ruling from an administrative court in Rome that challenges to the controversial bidding process had no validity.

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.

Italy’s dedicated police force, the Guardia di Finanza, on whose shoulders falls the responsibility for carrying out various measures, including the impounding of over 100,000 AWPs and the closure of hundreds of illegal betting shops, have chronicled their recent achievements in a public presentation that appears to confirm their tough stance against unlicensed operators.

A new high court decision in Italy will make it harder for the authorities to balance the wants of its new licensees with the needs of its legacy operators.

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.

Liverpool based bookmaker Stanley International has secured another victory in Italy’s Cassazione court, but the terms of the judgement, which is damning of the Italian Government’s past actions, may do little to end the entrenched positions still being taken by both sides.

Italy has recently issued regulations to allow for the introduction of VLT machines, cash internet poker, new scratchcard lotteries and online casino games. In 2009 gaming companies operating in Italy collected €53bn in bets.

Two years have now passed since the historic decision by the Italian government to begin blocking websites controlled by “unauthorised operators.” The Italian regulator AAMS believes results have vindicated its controversial decision while blocking has since been adopted by many other European jurisdictions.