Today, September 28th, the IIDEA event, an association representing the video game industry in Italy, entitled “The esports ecosystem in Italy. Regulatory framework, scenarios and growth prospects for the sector”in which sector operators and representatives of institutions relating to the world of culture took part: the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Culture, Sen. Lucia Borgonzonithe President of the Culture Commission in the Senate of the Republic, Hon. Roberto Martithe President of the Culture Commission in the Chamber, Hon. Federico Molliconethe Hon. Luca Toccalini. He also spoke Marco Salettapresident of IIDEA.
During the event, IIDEA presented its own recommendations and proposals for a possible one regulation of the sector in Italy. The proposals include definitions in line with Europe, obligations of prior declaration and guarantees in case of prize money exceeding a certain amount for the organizers of video game competitions, limits for the participation of minors, sanctions in case of non-compliance with the established obligations.
Below are the details from the official press release:
It was held today, at Ministry of Culture, the event “The esports ecosystem in Italy. Regulatory framework, scenarios and growth prospects for the sector”, organized by IIDEA, the association representing the video game industry in Italy. Esports has seen a decrease in users in the post-pandemic due to the return to outdoor activities, however, Italy remains a reference country in Europe, confirming itself together with Poland and Spain among the three countries with a greater incidence and with a greater fan engagement. 24% of the Italian population between 16 and 65 years old uses esports, or almost 9 million people, in particular Millennials (54%) and Gen Z (19%). Over 4 million people in Italy between 16 and 65 years old enjoyed more than 4 hours a week in the first 6 months of 2022.
The starting point of the discussion was the important resolution of the European Parliament on esports and video games approved in November 2022, which defined esports as part not only of the video game sector, but more generally of the culture and media sector. The resolution also highlighted the differences with the sports sector, given the digital nature of video games and the centrality of intellectual property rights. In the wake of the resolution, the main operators in the sector shared the challenges and opportunities of the esports world in Italy with the institutions relating to the world of culture present: the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Culture, Sen. Lucia Borgonzoni, the President of the Commission Culture in the Senate of the Republic, Hon. Roberto Marti, the President of the Culture Commission in the Chamber, Hon. Federico Mollicone, the MP Hon. Luca Toccalini.
During the debate it emerged that Italian companies are currently subject to rules and bear significant additional burdens compared to companies in other European markets, such as France, Spain or Germany, thus finding themselves at a competitive disadvantage in a single market such as the European one. . The still unexpressed development potential of the sector in Italy was also highlighted, with all the related opportunities for attracting events on the national territory, together with social, educational and professional opportunities.
On this occasion, IIDEA presented its recommendations and proposals for possible regulation of the sector in Italy, taking France as a model, one of the most competitive markets in Europe for esports and video games, and with the aim that all video game competitions in Italy can take place in compliance with the principles of economic freedom, consumer protection and protection of minors. The proposals include definitions in line with Europe, obligations of prior declaration and guarantees in case of prize money exceeding a certain amount for the organizers of video game competitions, limits for the participation of minors, sanctions in case of non-compliance with the established obligations.
Said the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Culture, Sen. Lucia Borgonzoni.
“As Undersecretary, I pay maximum attention to a sector capable of combining creativity and entertainment and speaking to a wide audience. I thank all those who organized and promoted today’s meeting, an interesting opportunity for a discussion on the present and future of a constantly growing sector. The policies that we have adopted and will adopt aim at an ever greater development of the Italian cultural and creative industry, a large family of which the companies of the esports ecosystem are certainly part”
He has declared Marco SalettaPresident IIDEA:
“We thank the institutions that welcomed us today for giving us the opportunity to present our requests for possible regulation of the esports sector in Italy. Should we wish to proceed, our hope, as a reference association for the sector, is that any intervention can take two main objectives into consideration: enhancing the cultural, educational and social importance of video games, including competitive ones, and removing the barriers that currently hinder competitiveness, in order to attract investments on the national territory and to create equal conditions for Italian companies to operate on the international market.”
