Sicily authorities sign protocol to curb illegal gambling and money laundering

In Messina, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Guardia di Finanza and the Territorial Directorate of the Customs and Monopolies Agency signed a cooperation protocol aimed at strengthening controls against illegal online gambling and related money‑laundering activities. The agreement was signed by Prosecutor Antonio D’Amato, General Stefano Lombardi and Director Davide Miggiano. It operationalises the national protocol renewed for 2025 and will allow rapid sharing of risk analyses to protect the legal market, combat tax evasion and block organised‑crime infiltration, especially in the province of Messina, which recorded the highest per‑capita online gambling spend in Italy in 2025.

Separately, the Regional Administrative Court of Sicily (Tar) postponed its ruling on a dispute over a betting centre in Modica. The court suspended the immediate effect of a decree issued by the Ragusa police that ordered the centre to cease operations and remove its advertising. The case will be examined by a collegial chamber on 10 September 2026, after the court deemed the matter requires a more in‑depth review.