The report by CGIL and Federconsumatori “The black book of gambling” has been published which examines in depth the dizzying growth in recent years of online gambling in Italy, thanks to unpublished data referring to 2023, obtained with access to documents from Customs agency and monopolies. The report includes detailed data at regional, provincial and municipal level, which highlights the strong penetration of mafias and the irregular economy within legal gaming. Due to the incomprehensible prohibition on the dissemination of detailed data on the physical game of slots (AWP and VLT), “The Black Book”, although limited to online gaming (which has surpassed physical gaming in the collection), aspires to be a real and own map of the acute gambling crises present in our country today. These crises, underestimated, will require the attention of political forces and institutions at all levels.
The report also gives space to the theme of the growing penetration of different forms of gambling among the younger part of the population, in particular among minors. Basilicata is not exempt from this phenomenon. Analysis of recent data highlights how gambling, both physical and online, is having a significant impact on local communities, aggravated by the presence of illicit activities linked to organized crime.
In 2022, Basilicata recorded online gambling collections per capita similar to other regions in Southern Italy, where increasing problem gambling trends are observed. The economic and social impact of gambling is also highlighted in the report by CGIL and Federconsumatori, which shows how the winnings are lower than the sums gambled, which means that a significant part of the money invested by citizens does not return to their pockets. This disparity creates a further economic imbalance in a region like Basilicata, already plagued by socio-economic problems.
In terms of organized crime, the report highlights how, even in Basilicata, mafias use legal and illegal gambling to manage and launder illicit capital, similarly to what happens in other regions of Southern Italy.
click here to download the report
