Italy’s MEF Targets €1bn from Gambling Sector in 2027 Budget Law via Licensing and Concession Reforms
Italy’s MEF aims to extract €1bn from gambling operators in the 2027 Budget Law through online licensing changes, new audits, and concession adjustments. The move supports a €7-8bn broader revenue package ahead of 2027 elections. Details on rates and timing are still pending.
SCCG Take — Operators must model rising compliance and fee costs while tracking parliamentary outcomes. Concession extensions deliver short-term cash flow certainty but confirm sustained fiscal pressure on the sector.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) expects to raise €1bn from gambling operators under Italy’s 2027 Budget Law. The sum forms part of a wider revenue drive targeting between €7bn and €8bn, drawing also from banks, insurers and energy companies. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has placed the budget at the centre of her agenda ahead of 2027 elections.
The plans tie the €1bn contribution to reforms covering online gambling licensing, auditing procedures and technical standards. These measures follow the new online licensing regime introduced in November 2025, which included an annual fee of €7m. Operators could face updated auditing of concessions and player accounts, revised accounting of winnings and withdrawals, and higher charges for concession extensions.
Reforms to Online Rules and Revenue Streams
Options under discussion include fresh revenue streams linked to online gambling, withdrawal transactions and concession agreements. Final rates and timing remain unconfirmed, leaving licence holders with uncertainty over exact obligations. Meloni ended separate talks on retail network reorganisation in August, removing the issue from the 2027 agenda.
Concession Timeline Adjustments and Next Steps
A pending proposal would bring forward the tender for the instant-win and scratchcard concession, currently run by Lotterie Nazionali, a joint venture of Brightstar Lottery, Scientific Games, Arianna and Allwyn. The existing contract expires in 2028; advancing renewal by one year would target a stewardship deal worth around €1bn. The MEF is also weighing a three-year extension of retail gambling concessions from end-2026 to end-2029 to maintain licensing fee income while resolving longer-term retail issues.
The budget bill is expected to reach the Chamber of Deputies towards the end of the month. Negotiations with the European Commission on budget flexibility will shape the final programme and any additional spending priorities.
Reporting: Focus Gaming News
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