Italy’s betting operators are pushing back hard against a government proposal to impose a new tax on betting turnover to give struggling sports leagues a boost.

Last weekend, reports surfaced that Italy’s government was mulling a proposal to include a 0.75% tax on all sports betting turnover – land-based, online, and also on virtual sports – in the so-called Relaunch Decree aimed at getting Italy back up and running following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The proposed new tax would remain in place until December 31, 2022, with the money earmarked for a ‘football protection’ fund. Italy’s football leagues, which are struggling after being ordered to suspend play until the country got a hold on its COVID-19 problem, had initially pressed for a 1% turnover tax.

But Italy’s betting operators have been equally unable to earn during the pandemic, and land-based betting shops have yet to be given permission to open their doors to the public. (The government previously floated a timeline for retail gaming restarts, but this was binned shortly thereafter, leaving operators in the dark.)