Italian Council of State upholds closure of Viterbo slot hall over distance violations

The Council of State (Consiglio di Stato) rejected a request to suspend an earlier decision by the Regional Administrative Court of Lazio (Tar del Lazio) that had annulled the licence of a slot‑machine hall in Viterbo. The court had found the venue failed to respect the minimum distance required from sensitive locations.

The appeal was filed by another gaming operator, but the Council of State affirmed that the exemption for existing operators applies only to businesses already operating before the 2013 regional regulation or those continuing uninterrupted. In this case, previous licences were revoked in 2021‑2022 and the new operator began activity only in 2025, meaning the hall was a new establishment and not eligible for the exemption. The ruling underscores strict enforcement of distance rules for gambling venues.