Italy's Court of Cassation upholds illegal betting convictions

The Italian Court of Cassation has upheld convictions against business owners in Sicily and Calabria for operating illegal betting activities through internet points and data transmission centers.

In the first case, a Biancavilla internet point operator had a seven-year legal battle concluded after the court rejected a defense appeal. Investigators found evidence of organized illegal betting via a foreign operator without Italian concessions, including over 2,000 betting slips and significant cash amounts.

In the second case, the court confirmed the conviction of a center owner in Calabria for acting as an unauthorized intermediary for a foreign bookmaker. The court noted decisive evidence including the use of falsely registered gaming accounts and the fact that minors were able to access gambling services. In both instances, the courts rejected defense arguments that the businesses were merely providing internet access or data transmission services.