Expanded Sports Betting Overview: South Korea, Italy, U.K. Embracing Legal Gambling
In the world of gambling regulations, three nations - Italy, South Korea, and the UK - are currently undergoing significant changes.
In Italy, the government is actively reviewing and potentially reforming restrictions on gambling advertising and sponsorships, including sports betting, with esports betting legality stable but not recently updated. The Dignity Decree, which currently restricts such activities, is set for a review in 2025, with Roberto Alesse, Director General of ADM (Italy's Customs and Monopolies Agency), suggesting a potential liberalization of sports betting sponsorship rules following the review. The final vote on these changes is expected this fall. Top-tier clubs in Italy are lobbying for rapid implementation of the changes, and a 1% tax on sponsorships is proposed to fund stadium upgrades and gambling harm campaigns.
Meanwhile, South Korea is revising its regulatory approach, especially concerning foreign gambling. A notable proposal is the introduction of an "Esports Toto" platform for esports betting, but exact details on domestic gaming reforms or esports betting legalization are not specified in the available data.
In the UK, the All-Party Parliamentary Group has reopened a wide-ranging inquiry into gambling regulation. The inquiry aims to evaluate whether current laws, especially the 2005 Gambling Act, adequately protect consumers in the digital age. Operators and charities are expected to submit evidence during the inquiry, as the UK is reconsidering the legal future of UK sports betting. Despite ongoing research-driven scrutiny, there are no recent reform updates from these results.
Notably, these inquiries do not involve the Winter Olympics, the Italian sports betting market, the South Korean esports betting market, or the Korean e-Sports Association.
These changes, if implemented, could generate substantial revenue. In South Korea, the proposed Esports Toto platform is estimated to generate up to $175 million annually. In Italy, limited reauthorization of legal online sportsbook deals is also proposed.
Public hearings are underway as part of the inquiries, with Iain Duncan Smith chairing the UK's investigation. All parties involved are eagerly awaiting the outcomes of these regulatory reviews, which could shape the future of gambling in these nations.
- In Italy, the Dignity Decree, which currently controls gambling advertising and sponsorships, including sports betting and esports betting, is set for a review in 2025, proposing potential liberalization of sports betting sponsorship rules.
- South Korea is considering the introduction of an "Esports Toto" platform for esports betting, which could generate up to $175 million annually if implemented.
- In the UK, the All-Party Parliamentary Group is reevaluating gambling regulation, specifically focusing on whether current laws, such as the 2005 Gambling Act, effectively protect consumers in the digital age.
- The Italian sports betting market and the South Korean esports betting market are not directly involved in these current regulatory reviews, such as the Winter Olympics or the Korean e-Sports Association.
