ITALY Law and Practice Contributed by: Stefano Sbordoni, Sbordoni & Partners
1. Introduction 1.1 Current Outlook and Recent Changes The legal gaming market is constantly growing in Italy. In 2024, the total gambling revenue was EUR157.45 billion, marking a 6.59% increase compared to the previous year. The gross gaming revenue (GGR) was EUR21.577 billion in 2024 – a 4.38% increase com- pared to the previous year. 2024 saw a slight decrease in tax revenues of 0.6% compared to 2023. The data indicates a negative change for the AWP (amusement with prizes) and totalisator number games sectors, which saw a slight reduction in gaming volume. In the online betting sector and in the remote skill games sector (casino games, cash games, etc), however, there was a clear increase in the volume of gaming – with a corresponding increase in tax rev- enues (by 18.14% and 16.73% respectively). Recent Changes In 2024, a very important reform for the gaming and betting sector was approved, with Legislative Decree No 41/2024 containing “provisions regarding the reor- ganisation of the gaming sector starting with remote/ online gaming” (passed under the broader tax reform framework of Delegation Law No 111/2023). Article 1 of Legislative Decree No 41/2024 states that “the pro- visions of this decree constitute the primary regulatory framework for the regulation of legal public gaming in Italy”. Legislative Decree No 41/2024 aims to reorgan- ise the whole public gaming sector – particularly the online sector – by focusing on, among other things: • the public tender for the online/remote public gam- ing concessions expiring on 31 December 2024 and, in the meantime, the extension of the old concessions until 12 November 2025 – ensuring service continuity pending new assignments (see 4.4 Availability of Licences ); • redefinition of concession fees for online gaming operators (see 4.8 Application Fees ), as follows: (a) a “one-off fee” of EUR7 million for the conces- sionaires; (b) an “annual fee” of 3% of the net revenues of each concessionaire; and (c) an “annual fee” of 0.2% of the dealers’ net revenues for information and communication
campaigns to combat gambling addiction; • new rules for points of sale and recharge (PVR); • greater player protection and measures to combat gambling addiction; • adoption of advanced technological tools (such as AI) to monitor gaming activities and prevent illegal behaviour; • more stringent requirements for obtaining authori- sation from the Customs and Monopolies Agency ( Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli , or ADM) (see 4.6 Application Requirements ); • a strong limitation on the use of cash (limited to EUR100 per week); and • the reaffirmation of the protection of minors and the fight against pathological gambling problems including deposit limits, spending warnings, ses- sion duration notices, self-exclusion tools, and a general obligation to invest in information and awareness campaigns. The State Budget Law of 2025 (Law No 207/2024) (the “2025 Budget Law”) contains, among other things, the following new provisions regarding the gaming and betting sector: • the extension until 31 December 2026 of all con- cessions originally expiring on 31 December 2024 ‒ for example, bingo, bets on sporting events (including horse race betting) and non-sporting events (including simulated events), and conces- sions for the construction and operation of telem- atic gaming management networks using entertain- ment machines pursuant to Article 110, paragraph 6 of the Consolidated Law on Public Security ( Testo Unico delle Leggi di Pubblica Sicurezza , or TULPS) (AWP machines and video lottery terminals (VLTs)); • an exemption from the ban on transferring bingo hall premises during the concession extension period – referred to in Article 1, paragraph 636, letter c of Law No 147/2013 ‒ for concessionaires who are unable to maintain the availability of the premises owing to force majeure, proven economic hardship, or circumstances not attributable to the concessionaire; • an annual fee of EUR94 million authorised for Pathological Gambling Addiction ( Gioco d’Azzardo Patologico , or GAP) Fund.
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