Italy’s Council of Ministers plan to publish the final version of its legislative decree on land-based gambling reform by 10 April. The decree is currently under review by the Unified Conference, which represents Italy’s 20 regions and more than 100 municipalities.
The reform programme began in 2023 with a focus on online gambling, culminating in a new licensing regime introduced in November 2025. Attention has now shifted to land-based operations, where stricter controls and updated concession structures are set to be enforced.
Stricter rules on venues and operations
As reported by SBC News, central to the decree are tighter restrictions on gambling venues. These include limits on operating hours and reinforced minimum distance requirements between gambling locations and so-called “sensitive sites” such as schools, hospitals and public institutions. Authorities are aiming to standardise rules nationwide while addressing long-standing regional disparities in regulation.
New licensing and concession framework
The reform introduces a revised structure for retail gambling concessions across multiple verticals:
- Gaming machines: Starting bids of €25 million for packages including 4,000 Amusement with Prizes machines and 900 Video Lottery Terminals
- Retail betting licences: Bundles of 25 licences priced at €60,000 each, with a base bid of €1.5 million
- Bingo halls: Starting bids of €350,000 per venue, covering around 210 locations
The overhaul comes amid mounting pressure on the sector, particularly gaming machines, which saw a €250 million drop in tax revenues in 2025.
Italian policymakers have raised concerns that delays in implementing reforms are fuelling the expansion of the unlicensed gambling market. Estimates suggest the illegal sector could be worth between €30 billion and €35 billion across retail and online channels. The new decree is expected to curb this trend by tightening compliance requirements and strengthening enforcement mechanisms.
Greater role for regional authorities
A key feature of the reform is the introduction of a revenue-sharing model designed to increase local participation. Under provisions linked to the 2026 Budget Law, €80 million will be distributed among regional authorities.
In addition, licensed operators will be able to open venues within a minimum distance of 100 metres from sensitive locations, provided they meet new certification standards.
Oversight will also be enhanced through the creation of a permanent committee to monitor problem gambling, alongside stricter anti-money laundering controls led by ADM.
Political backdrop and timeline pressures
Despite recent political challenges, including a referendum setback on judicial reforms, Meloni’s government remains committed to completing the gambling overhaul by 2026.
Finalising the decree before the fiscal delegation law expires on 29 August is seen as critical. Doing so would allow Italy to end repeated extensions on existing concessions for gaming machines, betting and bingo, all currently due to expire on 31 December.
State of legal gambling in Italy
Last year closed with strong results for the country’s online gambling sector, particularly for its three leading areas – casino games, poker and bingo. Total stakes for the year reached €77.85 billion, while players’ effective spending – the difference between total wagers and winnings returned – amounted to €3.3 billion.
In 2024, the total volume of Italy’s legal gambling market reached €157.4 billion, marking a 42 percent increase compared to 2019. Online gambling generated a total turnover of €92 billion, of which €87 billion was returned to players as winnings. The situation was starkly different for land-based gaming, which continued to show signs of contraction. Only a few categories – Lotto and Lotteries (+18 percent), Sports Games (+33 percent), and Bingo (+1 percent) – posted positive results in 2024 compared to 2019.
Market forecasts suggest that Italy’s online gambling sector may continue to expand over the next decade. Several research institutes predict that the Italian online gambling market could reach significantly higher values by 2035. Research company Market Research Future predicted that Italy’s online gambling market is projected to grow from about $3131 million in 2025 to $8000 million by 2035.
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