They called it “Win for Italia Team”, “Win for the Italian national teamBut the name, not too much captivatingthe substance does not change: yet another one appears in the maneuver state gamblingalbeit conceived with a noble (?) intent. Fix the Coni’s shaky budgetwhich loses millions every year. It is one of the measures envisaged in the latest package of reformulations to the Budget Law reached the Senate committee. The details must be regulated by a directorial provision of theCustoms Agency and Monopolies within 60 days of the approval of the law. In the meantime, we can say that it will be a numerical game totalizertherefore essentially one lotterywithout any relevance to sporting results. It should take advantage of a existing Sisal licensewhich can thus become a kind of “sponsor” of CONI, given that partnerships will be envisaged and promotional initiatives with the Olympic national teams. 65% of the collection will be allocated to prize money (in line with what is foreseen for similar games), 26.5% will end up in the Coni coffers for the financing of the projects of theItalia Team.
They worked on the proposal for months Coni technicianstogether with those of the government, in particular the Ministry of Economy and the Monopolies Agency. In some ways, it is a return to the old: for decades the Olympic Committee and the entire movement was supported by the proceeds of the vecchio Football pools: a solution studied in post-war by the historian president Onesti and by none other than a very young man Julius Andreottito overcome the problem of dependence on politics after fascism. A system that continued until 2003, when after the reform of the sector it returned to a financing governmentrecently institutionalized byformer minister Giorgetti in 2018. And the experience of the past evidently provided inspiration to overcome the difficulty of the present.
As told several times recently by Donethe Coni budget has become a sieve in recent years, after Giorgetti’s reform shifted money and power to the subsidiary Sports and Health. The Committee simply spends more than it can afford, especially inOlympic year: the accounts do not stand up and the government was systematically forced to top up the annual financing to put a patch on it. It happened last year, when the government had drawn from the 32% treasure due to sport, but the problem will also arise again in 2026. Therefore, net of these patchesit was necessary to find one solution structural.
No sooner said than done. The farewell of Malagò – who in recent years had created a climate of conflict permanent with politics – and the resumption of a collaborative dialogue with the government favored by new president Buonfiglioled to a first-time solution in this maneuver. Starting from 2027, the Budget Law had already allocated 10 million euros more per year for the Committee. Now add “Win for Italia Team“, with 26.5% of its collection: it is clear that these revenues – as the game is still in the launch phase – are still to be quantify. But in any case, between one and the other, Coni (without Malagò) should have resolved its issues for years problems. Of course, some might point out that this isn’t even a game about sportsbut only for sport. Ask yourself if they bettingwithout any component of merit as the dear one could have vecchio Football poolsthey really are better tool to finance Italian sport. Object that the gambling it is not compatible with his valuesand with the fight against gambling addiction heralded by all politicians. But it’s still money.
X: @lVendemiale
