The bingo sector in Italy is preparing for a transformation that could profoundly reshape the industry in the coming years. Following a prolonged period marked by technical extensions, administrative disputes and constant regulatory interventions, the issue of the future tender for licences is once again at the centre of discussions among institutions, operators and gaming analysts.
It is no longer simply a matter of renewing expiring licences. The real challenge lies in building a new industrial model for a sector that, nowadays, still appears tied to a regulatory framework established over 20 years ago and struggles to keep pace with the international evolution of the public gaming market.
Bingo sector still anchored to the 2000-era model
The current regulatory system for Italian bingo continues, in fact, to be based on Ministerial Decree No. 29 of 2000, a framework designed for traditional physical halls and for a largely analogue management of the product. Over the years, the regulatory framework has been amended several times, but almost always through legislative extensions or emergency measures, without a genuine, comprehensive overhaul of the sector.
Since 2013, the legislator has progressively increased the financial burden on licence holders. Various finance laws have introduced increasingly higher fees, new financial guarantees and further operational constraints for bingo halls. A process which, according to many operators, has ultimately squeezed the sector’s margins and slowed investment.
The situation became further complicated during the pandemic. In 2020, the Government ordered the closure of bingo halls alongside amusement arcades, casinos and betting shops, providing for a temporary exemption from licence fee payments during periods of inactivity. In 2021, a reduction in the monthly licence fee was introduced to support the sector financially.
Legal issues surrounding licenses
In recent years, the Italian bingo sector has also entered a complex legal phase involving both the Italian administrative courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union.
The EU Court, in joined cases C-728/22, C-729/22 and C-730/22, ruled in March 2025 on extensions to Italian bingo licences. The judgment clarified that any substantial changes to the licences must be assessed in the light of European Directive 2014/23/EU on public concessions.
Subsequently, the Lazio Regional Administrative Court also intervened on the economic aspects of the licences, asking the Customs and Monopolies Agency to redefine the licence fee for the 2025–2026 period, avoiding exclusively flat-rate criteria.
Pending the definition of the new licensing framework, the Customs and Monopolies Agency has temporarily set a uniform monthly licence fee of €2,800 for bingo halls.
Is the future of bingo at stake?
Beyond the legal aspect, the sector is primarily concerned with the future sustainability of the bingo model in Italy. Key market analyses highlight that a revival does not necessarily depend on increasing the number of halls, but rather on transforming the gaming experience.
A comparison with international markets is inevitable. In the UK, operators such as Buzz Bingo and Mecca Bingo have invested in recent years in integrating physical and digital halls, focusing on omnichannel strategies, live events and advanced customer engagement systems.
Buzz Bingo, according to the latest company figures, has recorded revenues in excess of £200 million in recent financial years, supported in part by the integration of retail and online operations.
The Spanish model is also often cited by operators as a potential source of inspiration. In Spain, interconnected electronic bingo allows different licensed halls to be linked via shared jackpots, increasing the product’s competitiveness without eliminating its social aspect.
In the United States, however, regulatory focus is primarily on the technical certification of electronic devices and player-tracking systems, with an emphasis on compliance and player protection.
Proposed reforms under consideration
The proposals circulating within the sector suggest a possible shift towards more flexible halls that are better integrated with digital technology. Among the solutions being considered are certified electronic tools for managing bingo cards, digital check-in systems, shared jackpots across multiple authorised halls, and greater integration with online bingo, which is already regulated in Italy.
At the same time, the future reform could introduce more advanced tools for responsible gaming. Proposals under discussion include self-exclusion systems shared between retail and online channels, customisable spending limits, behavioural alerts and session timers.
The issue of social sustainability remains central. Many operators stress the need to prevent bingo from being equated with slot machines. The aim would be to preserve the social and community-building aspect that has historically characterised traditional bingo, whilst maintaining structural limits on the speed of sessions and the intensity of play.
Towards a new licensing model
One of the key points of the future reform also concerns the licensing system. The prevailing view seems to be to move definitively away from the model of costly technical extensions and introduce more flexible economic formulas linked to the actual revenues of the halls.
Among the scenarios envisaged by operators, there is talk of a possible regulatory review by 2026, followed by experimental phases dedicated to new technologies and the future licensing network.
According to some assessments circulating within the sector, a controlled modernisation could encourage a recovery in participation and turnover in the coming years, especially if accompanied by greater digital integration and an offering better geared towards social entertainment.
A decisive challenge for the Italian market
The upcoming tender for bingo concessions could therefore represent much more than a simple administrative renewal. For the sector, this is a strategic transition that is set to define the product’s future in Italy.
After years of temporary measures and emergency solutions, the sector is now calling for stable rules, economic sustainability, and a modernisation that preserves bingo’s historical identity.
This article was originally published on the Italian SiGMA News page on 20 May 2026.
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