Assoprovider, the Association representing 200 Italian ISPs, appealed to the Regional Administrative Court as it considers the constraint by AAMS (Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli de Stato) of blocking clients from accessing foreign betting websites an act of violence against their freedom.
“Italian providers are the only ones in Europe to deny access to betting companies from Great Britain or from abroad. Italy is the first western nation to have imposed such restrictions that are a serious threat to freedom of expression on the internet,” said Fulvio Sarzana, the attorney representing Assoprovider.
The Regional Administrative Court could decide to revoke the blocking of the betting websites until the end of the procedure.
Earlier last week, Astrabet announced its intention to launch further litigation after the AAMS ignored an order issued on April 10 by the Civil Court of Rome to lift the ban on the Maltese-based bookmaker.
The Court held that the betting services provided through internet by Astrabet may not be restricted by Italian law since, the Court argued, Italian law does not apply to such operator. This is because Astrabet provides its betting service without any physical connection with the Italian territory.
“This is a very serious offence. AAMS is disobeying a Court Order issued in the Court of Rome on 10 April and we will be launching further litigation to enforce compliance,” commented a spokesman for Astrabet.
UPDATE: the ruling seems to have been enforced and astrabet.com works regularly from Italy. However, AAMS is understood to have presented an appeal which has been accepted by a judge that has set a hearing for May 29.
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