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No Change in the Italian Law on Coin op Machines
Despite of many rumours circulating in these weeks, the current Italian law on coin-op machines (Financial Budget 2001) has not had any change. Early in July there was a chance of have it modified, because the Italian Government had to issued several amendments to the Omnibus Decree – named from the Latin word for "several subjects".
Among others, an amendment concerning coin-op machines (expecially AWPs, still prohibited in Italy) was presented by the Government itself on. Unfortunately, many MPs refused to vote it, even because a press campaign in the days before had presented it as a "liberalization of gambling". That is why the Decree has been approved without the amendment about coin-op machines.The current Italian law classified machines in only 2 categories (Redemptions and Videogames) and does not allowed any prize, but prolonged session or free games up to a maximum of 10 credits; or prizes dispensed directly by the videogame hardware, whose value must be no more than 10 times the stake (redemptions).
The amendment would have introduced:
1) special anti-fraud devices in order to avoid the manipulating of the boards;
2) little money prices up to a maximum of € 10;
3) a percentage of win (in the current law it is not specified) of 90% of the money introduces in a cicle of 7000 games;
4) machines operating only inserting coins (not banknotes) and a stake of max € 0,50;
5) a system of certification of the machines (now they can be put in the market with a simple self-certification of the producers) to be sure they cannot be used for gambling;
6) an age limit of 18 (now not specified);
7) harder punishment for infringers;
8) a new fiscal systems (Italian operators are working without paying the taxes from 2001).
With thanks to SAPAR for this story.
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