Guardia di Finanza steps up Basilicata gambling checks with fines up to €20,000

Italy's Guardia di Finanza increased inspections of gaming halls, betting shops and top-up points across Basilicata, the regional command said. The checks followed analysis of data on the spread of legal gambling in the region and were intended to counter illegal and irregular gambling and to prevent related money laundering, the report said.

In the Lagonegrese area, officers from the Lauria company found that the holder of a top-up point had not ensured the necessary traceability of financial flows. Several top-ups of gaming accounts, for a total of some thousands of euros, were found to have been paid for at later moments, the report said. The case was referred to the competent office of the State accounting department in Potenza for possible penalties of up to €20,000.

In Matera province, officers from the Matera group examined financial flows, in particular top-ups to online gaming accounts over three months, and found more than 50 top-ups made in breach of the €100 weekly limit on cash top-ups at authorised top-up points. The violations were reported to the operator inspected and to the relevant concessionaire, which is jointly liable, for the application of administrative penalties of up to €20,000. The sanctions will be adopted by the competent office of the State accounting department, according to the report.

The Guardia di Finanza said it works to protect citizens from the risks of illegal or unguaranteed gambling offers, with particular attention to vulnerable groups including minors, and that monitoring financial flows helps identify illicit capital and counter money laundering. The report gave no further statement from the operators concerned and no information on appeals.