A full ban on gambling advertising is set to take effect in Italy from January 1, the Italian Council of Ministers approved the Dignity Decree authored by Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio.

All forms of gambling advertising, which the government says hurts families’ finances and targets the weakest members of society.

“It was a social emergency that needed to be tackled immediately,” Di Maio, said on RAI state TV on Tuesday. Advertising contracts that have already been signed will not be affected, but they cannot be renewed.