Italy Prepares to Overhaul Land-Based Gambling Regulations

A couple of years ago, Italy initiated its first major regulatory reform of the gambling sector in the last decade. Now, the Ministry of Finance (MEF) is reportedly facing pressure to continue negotiations over the overhaul of the laws regulating land-based gambling.

The Changes Need to Strike the Right Balance

The major reform started with the 2023 authorization of the Reorganization of Gambling Decree by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The effort represented a major push toward the changes of the gambling industry’s regulations and the first such effort in Italy since 2011.

The process started in 2024 with talks that included representatives of the country’s nearly two dozen administrative regions. Those discussions ultimately seek to shape a new regulatory framework that would better regulate land-based gambling. Ultimately, the changes seek to ensure the protection of gamblers, combat crimes and reap economic benefits. As announced by SBC, the overhaul of the land-based gambling regulations is supported by the body representing Italy’s regional administration, Conferenza Unificata (CU).

Italy represents the second-largest gambling market in Europe and its land-based gambling activities are responsible for the lion’s share of the revenue. Out of the total gross gaming revenue (GGR) reported in 2024, which was €21.5 billion ($23.2 billion), the land-based sector contributed €16.5 billion ($17.8 billion). This translates to some €10.2 billion ($11 billion) in tax revenue from the land-based gambling industry and only €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion) from online gambling. The aforementioned figures reaffirm that changes to the land-based gambling industry need to be robust but, at the same time, strike the right balance between effective regulation and economic advantages.

Discussions with Stakeholders and Regional Authorities Continue

Initial discussions proposed the allocation of 5% of GGR deriving from slots to regional governments across Italy. Per the initial proposal, an estimated €300 million ($323.1 million) is expected to benefit local governments, enabling them to address challenges related to problem gambling.

At the same time, those vital funds are expected to help with the development of safer gambling policies, which in turn can combat excessive or at-risk gambling. Still, it’s safe to say that there’s plenty of time until Italy overhauls its land-based gambling regulations, considering that discussions with stakeholders are currently ongoing.

Italy isn’t the only country in Europe that seeks to improve its gambling regulations. The largest market on the Old Continent, the one in the UK, recently overhauled its rules on promotions.

The country’s gambling regulator, the Gambling Commission, announced that the new rules seek to simplify the promotions and make them safer for the consumers. Besides prohibiting bonuses that encourage gambling with more than one product, the changes modify wording for bonuses, making them clearer and put a cap on re-staking requirements.