Italy: Police Doesn't Play "Poker Sportivo"

Police in Rome, Italy, last weekend, raided a pokerpolice intervention. According to italian law, "Those
tournament last and confiscated all objects used inwho profit, directly or indirectly, from organizing
the the game, including 12 poker tables,all thegambling in facilities that they are responsible for,
chips and cards. The game was running for lessshould be punished for gambling promotion". That's
than an hour before the local "cops" s came. Overmean also that if you put a promotional banner of
100 players registered for the tournament. "Butan online casino on your internet site you
it's a legal way for playing" said A.F., the directorcommitte a crime. The director of the club was
of the club and organizer of the tournment.shocked by the police action. Said that, "did not
Permitted from the italian law (FINANZIARIAbelieve anything illegal had taken place in his club,
2007). The prize pool was around the 3.000 Euro,the only sum he earned was the rent of the club
this looked like being a highly successful event forby a bridge and poker club...obout 220 Euro." But is
organiser, but the prize pool was not high ( that'sit legal to collect fee when people play bingo or
shoud mean in Italy: NO GAMBLOING). However,bridge in Italy? But is it legal if you pay a win of a
within an hour of the game starting the italianpoker tournment? But is it legal to organize a
police had other ideas, and closed the tournment.poker tournment in Italy? "If collecting fee is legal
Gambling not in one of the only 4 Italian Casinoswhen people play Bingo, it should be legal to
(Casino di Campione,Casino di Saint Vincent,collect the same fees for poker players, it's unfair
Casino di Venezia and Casino di Sanremo)is illegalthat playing for money is only illegal when playing
in Italy and this appears to be the basis of thepoker".