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| Italy Continues to Deny Access to Online Casino Sites |
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| 00:05 AM Friday June 9th 2006 |
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Despite continuing threats of legal action, the Italian government appears to be in no hurry to lift its ban over online casino sites. The directive it issued to Italian internet service providers earlier in the year to block traffic from blackballed online casino sites has remained in place, despite high profile legal proceedings initiated by the United Kingdom's Remote Gambling Authority. The total number of online casino sites to which casino players in Italy are now denied access to has reached 586.
The number was boosted recently by another list banning an additional 35 online casino sites and sports betting sites. The new list was issued to internet service providers and reportedly includes many of the big names in the online casino industry along with the sites of two Italian online casino sites that are accused of non-compliance with local gaming regulations.
The new list was issued just days after the EU Commission extended its deadline to Finland for justifying its state monopoly on gambling. The Finnish government's stance on the online casino industry was debated at length in court; however legislators were given an extra three months to clarify their position. The court originally heard the case after online casino group Ladbroke complained about Finnish casino fans being denied access to the site. |
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