€1.35 million fine imposed on X in Italy

After Twitch and Youtube last December, X (formerly Twitter) was fined 1.35 million euros in Italy by AGCOM in Italy for displaying gambling advertisements. This is contrary to Italian law which has banned all forms of advertising for online gambling since 2018. Although it is not certain that these fines will actually be paid due to previous court decisions, the Italian government shows itself to be combative in the application of large-scale restrictions in the gaming sector. They therefore wish to continue to protect the population when they are exposed to advertisements via digital platforms.

In an unprecedented move, social media giant X, formerly known as Twitter, has been hit with a heavy financial penalty in Italy. This marks the start of a new saga in the history of the regulation of online gambling advertising. Italy’s media regulator, AGCOM, has fined X €1.35 million for violating the country’s strict gambling advertising guidelines.

7 verified accounts on X already suspended

According to the AGCOM press release, nine verified accounts on X were identified for violating the legislation by displaying gambling-related advertisements between August 2022 and May 2023. It is unclear whether these were advertisements from regulated or illegal casinos.

As the accounts are verified and approved by X, the platform finds itself in a position of responsibility for these offenses. During the procedural phase, X has already suspended seven of the offending users. AGCOM has issued a ban order for the remaining accounts.

Sanctions against Twitch, Youtube and Google

In 2023, heavy fines were also imposed on Google, Twitch and YouTube, all found guilty of promoting gambling.

Twitch’s fine amounted to 900,000 euros, while YouTube had to pay a much larger sum of 2.25 million euros. Italy continues to make efforts to protect consumers, particularly young people, from the risks associated with online gambling.

Implications and repercussions

Although it remains uncertain whether these fines will actually be paid, especially after the courts overturned a previous sanction against Google, Italy is sending a clear signal to these platforms to monitor and regulate the advertisements served. However, the court ruling exempting Google from liability for content published on its platform could pave the way for similar defenses for X and other sanctioned entities.

The series of convictions in Italy, concerning X and other digital giants, must be analyzed in the broader context of the black gambling market in Italy. Indeed, according to information reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, unauthorized online casinos generate an impressive income of 18.5 billion euros in the country.