The Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) has drafted a regulatory proposal to reorganise the land-based gaming sector. Its technical details are still under review.
This information was revealed by Lucia Albano, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, in response to a parliamentary question.
The reorganisation of the Italian land-based gambling sector has been under way for some time.
It aims to harmonise regional and municipal regulations, particularly regarding operating hours and the proximity of operators' venues to sensitive locations.
Furthermore, it also seeks to define regulatory principles for new licences covering AWPs, VLTs, betting shops and bingo halls.
According to insiders, there are rumours circulating from conferences and meetings with business associations about the Government’s plans.
These suggest that the upcoming concession tenders could reduce the number of licences, raise the minimum bid and potentially alter market concentration limits.
Such changes could favour large international operators and investment funds, disadvantaging small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Andrea de Bertoldi, an independent member of the Chamber of Deputies, expressed concern that if the rumours are accurate, the sector may be moving towards an oligopoly.
He emphasised that he does not believe this is the intention of the Government or the parliamentary majority.
Deputies have requested clarification from the Ministry of Economy and Finance on future regulatory guidelines, stakeholder consultations and measures to safeguard the industry.
On consultations with industry stakeholders, Albano stated:
“Regarding consultations with industry organisations and trade associations, ADM has held numerous meetings with these bodies, where they had the opportunity to present their positions and requests.”
Regarding the next steps for the legislation, Albano added:
“Specifically, after approval by the Council of Ministers and review in the Unified Conference, the draft legislative decree will require the opinion of parliamentary committees competent in subject matter and financial matters. During this stage, parliamentary discussion on the content will take place.”
The Italian trade associations EGP and FIPE recently warned that the land-based sector faces challenges from territorial restrictions, operating-hour limits, and growing competition from both legal and illegal online gaming.
State revenue from gaming machines declined from €5.66bn ($6.52bn) in 2023 to €5.24bn in 2025, a drop of 7.4%, according to the 2025 Tax Revenue Bulletin from Italy’s Department of Finance
