The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has accused the Italian authorities of risking a spike in illegal gambling if they pursue proposals to slash the number of online gambling licensees and massively increase fees.

EGBA has called on the Italian gaming authority…to notify the European Commission of a new draft law which it contends could be in contravention of European Union consumer protection rules.

It said a new tender for nine-year online gambling concessions to be introduced from 2023 would limit the number of online gambling licensees in the country to 40 from the present figure of 120. It would also increase online licensing fees to at least €2.5m, representing a ten-fold rise.