Operators gain 84 million Euros a day, because they always win, apart from results. Bets’ differentiation is a great business tempting criminal organizations that usually lay down the law in game sector. Mafia has always been managing illicit betting, but now it can manage legal bets too. The scandal of fixed matches has just broken: an international business coming from Singapore, and joining lots of Italian supporters. Some of the most loved athletes among 17 arrested.

Few months ago, the Gaurdia di Finanza (Italian Financial Police) checked all the slot machines, while “Report”, a Rai3 program, set an inquiry on the issue. In 2007 two thirds of bars’ and arcades’ machines were illegal. 200 unlawful slot machines wormed a lot of money out of gamblers – according to recent data, 45 billion Euros. A Sicilian operator was in possession of 27 thousand of unlawful, working slot machines. Bets are fundamental to launder illicitly acquired money.

This business makes criminals, bosses, white collars and managers join together with traders living through difficult times. People spending lots of money on gambling fall into economical problems that force them to address moneylenders - usually they are linked to Mafia families. This seems to be not enough to criminalize gambling, entertainment, bet centers springing up in Palermo or in other cities.

But when you rely upon luck instead of investing on your own job or on your life projects, you risk of being on the verge of ruin and of living as an outsider: instead of brushing up your own future, you rely upon fishy people.