Online games, test for traceability of cash reloads started

Testing by operators for the control of cash recharges up to EUR 100 in the online gaming sector has started. The test environment for dealers went live on 16 March. A note from the Customs and Monopolies agency gave the news, referring precisely to the tracking of information related to online gaming. The realobligation for the adaptation of computer systems to recognise the exceeding of EUR 100 in weekly cash per single gaming account will be from 13 May 2026. While, it is recalled, the entry into force of the new online gaming rules is scheduled for 13 November 2026.

"In order to allow distance gaming dealers to communicate information relating to cash top-ups on the gaming account, pending the establishment of the ISR (Top-up Points of Sale) register, message 6.3 V3 - Movement of gaming account of the PACG gaming account registry protocol will be modified, providing for the admission, in the ISR ID field, of a numeric value greater than zero in the case of cash top-ups from ISR. This change will be available in the test environment from 5 March 2012 and in the operational environment from 16 March 2012.

In other words, the IT infrastructure has been set up and the dealers have been testing it since yesterday. The procedure serves for the monitoring of those who still use cash for recharging their gaming accounts up to 100 euro per week, as envisaged by the gaming reform, as an exception to the method of recharging above 100 euro in a traced manner. This is an important juncture for dealers, who until now did not have the possibility of real monitoring of the exceeding of the threshold, which could lead to possible objections by the Financial Guard.

The starting point is the gaming reform adopted through the Decree 41/2024, implementing the tax reform. With regard to the online remote gaming aspect, Article 12 of Legislative Decree 41/24 provided for the establishment (yet to be implemented) of the electronic register of those who also operate as top-up points of sale against payment of remuneration. The maintenance of registration in the register was set at an annual fee of EUR 100.

Shopkeepers, of the reload point of sale, shall perform reloading operations of the online gaming account exclusively at the request of the respective holder, proceeding to identify him/her and to verify his/her identity. The reloading of the online gaming account and at the reloading point of sale takes place by means of payment instruments, suitable for ensuring thetraceability of financial flows, which must have been declared in advance by the holder of the gaming account to the dealer and already validated by the latter for the execution of transactions on the gaming account.