Italian Government Projects €700m in Gambling Taxes to Support Multi-Year Spending Plans

Italy's government expects the gambling sector to deliver €700m in tax revenues across 2026 and 2027 under the newly approved Budget Law. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni secured approval from the Council of Ministers for the fiscal package. These gambling proceeds will sit alongside finance and energy taxes to fund measures worth €26bn in 2027 and €27bn in 2028.

The €700m figure falls between earlier projections that ranged from €400m-€500m to as much as €1bn. The Budget Law omits any new tender for Gratta e Vinci scratch cards. Officials continue evaluating a paid extension of the existing concession scheduled to expire in September 2028.

Online Licensing Overhaul Shapes Current Operations

The budget arrives as the online market is nearing the end of its first year under a new licensing framework introduced in November 2025. Operators must now hold separate licences for each brand and pay an annual €7m licence fee. The changes have required adjustments in commercial structures and compliance costs.

Regulatory Lag Creates Extended Uncertainty

Negotiations over a new land-based gambling framework between the Ministry of Economy and Finance and regional authorities remain unresolved after two years. Meloni instructed officials in August to finalise a federal approach across Italy's regions and municipalities. The ADM responded by extending current concessions until the end of 2028. This leaves operators with prolonged clarity gaps at the same time the state is raising its fiscal expectations from the sector. The tension bears watching as preparations for the 2027 general election intensify.