Devices without cash prizes and Esports, the authorizations provided by the Excise Customs and Monopoly Agency
The provisions referred to in the Directorial Determination n. 250263 / RU of last June 10 will come into force from 1.7.2022.
The Excise Customs and Monopolies Agency published the Directorial Determination n. 250263 / RU in force from 1 July 2022 which also regulates the "Entertainment Pavilion" attraction of the traveling show to allow - temporarily - the exercise of the eSport bar and LAN rooms. The provision, in essence, provides that only the devices referred to in Article 110, paragraph 7 of the T.U.L.P.S., as well as the "hand operated token game, bulldozer operated token game, vertical fishing devices can be installed in the Detention Pavilions of skill", already installed as of December 31, 2002. With regard to virtual sports, in particular, the aforementioned Directorial Determination provides that "any type of device that allows gaming without a cash prize that does not comply with the technical rules set out in the DRTEC installed as of 1 July 2022 inside the pavilions and the entertainment rooms must have an authorization title no later than 30 June 2023 or, if not possible, be uninstalled". According to this provision, "also fall under this provisional regime. the devices (PCs) of the LAN rooms and virtual sports events, which must only allow connection to platforms online, intended solely for play without a cash prize. In the initial implementation, and considering the traceability of some attractions of the traveling show generally defined as video games and currently in use in game rooms, the new regulation applies to all halls or entertainment rooms in possession of said authorization as of 1 July 2022 or which , in any case, they have submitted to the competent municipal administrations an application for the issue of the authorization for the traveling show by the aforementioned 1 July, if they have not received explicit denial by the competent local authority". Essentially, A.D.M. has tried to clarify how to manage the eSports halls and release those that are closed (see article on the recent LAN-gate affair), even if it is expected that in just 14 working days the managers of eSports halls and events in fairs and events must prepare the technical documentation required by the Ministerial Decree of 18 May 2007 signed by a qualified professional and request a license from the municipality, after having submitted the attraction to the verification of the local Supervisory Commission on the entertainment venues. This tight deadline could cause significant problems for operators in the sector.