Italian Retail Gambling Operators Seek Bridging Measures with Concessions Set to Expire

Retail concessions for betting, bingo, AWPs and VLTs in Italy expire on 31 December 2026. The decree meant to reorganise the land-based market, and set the terms for new tenders, was shelved in August and missed the government’s 29 August deadline. With no reform in sight, the Associazione Gestori Scommesse Italia has called for immediate bridging measures to keep gaming machines, horse racing and sports betting viable.

Pasquale Chiacchio, AGSI president, told Italian trade outlet Jamma that these segments cannot wait for new tenders. “Gaming machines, horse racing and betting cannot wait three years,” he said, according to reporting by iGaming Business.

The retail channel still accounts for roughly three-quarters of a market worth more than €21 billion. Online gambling already operates under its new concession framework, with further rules taking effect on 13 November. Retail concessions, by contrast, have been extended year by year.

Widening Gap Between Online and Retail Channels

Quirino Mancini, IMGL co-founder, said at the SBC Summit in Lisbon that gambling is a sensitive issue and that this explains why reform has stalled. He noted that reorganising the network was first referenced in the 2016 Stability Law approximately ten years ago. The technical framework is largely agreed; the obstacle is political.

Davide Diodato, CEO of Novomatic-owned HBG Online, highlighted the resulting operational pressure. Online licences run for nine years while retail concessions receive annual extensions, making it difficult for shopkeepers to invest or hire. Total gaming tax revenue fell 6.3% to €3.64 billion in the first half of 2026.

AGSI Proposals to Address Retail Decline

Chiacchio called for the transition period to introduce new products through agencies and authorised outlets, citing the 1998-1999 trial that first brought sports betting into horse racing agencies. AGSI also seeks a consultation table with government and industry to draft tender rules that permit small and medium-sized businesses to bid alongside larger groups. It advocates a more evenly distributed national network with trained staff, pointing to Campania’s regional law as a model.

Chiacchio warned that a shrinking legal network would hand ground to illegal operators. Enforcement should target the black market rather than add restrictions on licensed shops. The operators’ association AGIC, whose members include Flutter, Lottomatica, Entain and Bet365, has likewise noted that repeated extensions have left the retail market without long-term certainty for nearly a decade.

Reporting: iGaming Business (iGB)

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