Thailand’s Cabinet approved a draft law to allow gambling in large entertainment complexes, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced on 13 January. The draft will go to parliament for deliberation; the Finance Ministry estimates legalisation could add 120bn to 220bn baht in tourism revenue.
Thailand’s casino proposal now proceeds to parliament, but remains a draft rather than law.
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Vito De Palma called for modern legislation on esports and a dedicated discussion of its tax treatment by the Finance Commission. Speaking at a book presentation in Rome, he said earlier legislative proposals had not led to an in-depth parliamentary assessment.
Vito De Palma, a member of the Italian parliament, called for the Chamber of Deputies' Finance Commission to open a discussion on the taxation of esports, speaking at a book presentation in Rome on 14 October. De Palma said esports is not only entertainment but a sector involving young people, businesses, professionals, investment and new economic opportunities, and that Italy cannot arrive late.
Saverio Congedo, an FdI parliamentarian, addressed gambling tax provisions during the Italian Chamber's debate on the fuel decree. He said prohibited gambling and betting sponsorships should receive no tax advantage.
Saverio Congedo, a parliamentarian for Fratelli d'Italia (FdI), addressed the tax treatment of gambling and betting sponsorships during the Italian Chamber of Deputies' examination of the fuel decree, according to a report. Congedo spoke on the provisions introduced under Article 2-ter, which concern the tax treatment of concessionaires' information campaigns and of sponsorships of gambling and betting prohibited by law. He described gambling as a delicate matter that merits further examination, rejected criticism raised during the discussion and referred to the changes approved during parliamentary examination.
Dutch gambling trade association VNLOK published a position paper ahead of a parliamentary gambling debate scheduled for 3 September. It called for targeted protections, including shared risk detection and non-increasable limits for players up to age 23, and urged stronger action against illegal online casinos.
Italian MP Antonio D’Alessio called for substantive parliamentary discussion of gambling reform, including hearings and committee debate. Speaking at a conference in Rome, he argued that reform should address online and land-based gambling together and account for economic, health and legal concerns.
A Dutch government-commissioned survey found that adults aged 18 to 39 more often named lottery subscriptions in unsolicited door-to-door and street sales. The survey included 1,367 respondents with door-sales experience and 1,170 with street-sales experience in the previous two years; it gave no separate age-group percentages and did not measure purchases. Minister Heleen Herbert plans to submit a cooling-off bill after Council of State advice, but its application to lotteries remains unspecified.
Adults aged 18 to 39 more often named lottery subscriptions among offers made through door-to-door and street sales, researchers at Ipsos I&O found in a Dutch government-commissioned survey. The researchers gave no separate percentages for that age group. People with higher levels of education also named lotteries more often in relation to street sales.