Italy: Police Doesn't Play "Poker Sportivo"

Police in Rome, Italy, last weekend, raided a pokerAccording to italian law, "Those who profit, directly or
tournament last and confiscated all objects used in theindirectly, from organizing gambling in facilities that they
the game, including 12 poker tables,all the chips andare responsible for, should be punished for gambling
cards. The game was running for less than an hourpromotion". That's mean also that if you put a
before the local "cops" s came. Over 100 playerspromotional banner of an online casino on your internet
registered for the tournament. "But it's a legal way forsite you committe a crime. The director of the club
playing" said A.F., the director of the club and organizerwas shocked by the police action. Said that, "did not
of the tournment. Permitted from the italian lawbelieve anything illegal had taken place in his club, the
(FINANZIARIA 2007). The prize pool was around theonly sum he earned was the rent of the club by a
3.000 Euro, this looked like being a highly successfulbridge and poker club...obout 220 Euro."
event for organiser, but the prize pool was not high (But is it legal to collect fee when people play bingo or
that's shoud mean in Italy: NO GAMBLOING). However,bridge in Italy? But is it legal if you pay a win of a poker
within an hour of the game starting the italian policetournment?
had other ideas, and closed the tournment.But is it legal to organize a poker tournment in Italy?
Gambling not in one of the only 4 Italian Casinos"If collecting fee is legal when people play Bingo, it
(Casino di Campione,Casino di Saint Vincent, Casino dishould be legal to collect the same fees for poker
Venezia and Casino di Sanremo)is illegal in Italy and thisplayers, it's unfair that playing for money is only illegal
appears to be the basis of the police intervention.when playing poker".