Paola Pollini, President of the Anti-mafia Commission of the Lombardy Regional Council, has stated that an efficient regional law in Lombardy is needed to address the issues linked to online gambling.
The development follows the presentation of a new dossier ‘’Azzardomafie’’ on Italy’s gambling sector by representatives of Libera.
Libera is an Italian anti-mafia civil society network that brings together more than 1,600 organisations to combat organised crime, corruption and social injustice.
Published in February, the dossier estimates that gambling turnover in Italy increased by 6.59% to €157bn in 2024, of which €102bn was generated online. It also recorded a 10% rise in online gambling in 2024 compared with the previous year.
Pollini stated that it is essential for institutions to act to protect citizens, prevent problem gambling and reduce the risk of excessive indebtedness, while also combating mafia infiltration in the sector.
She also emphasised the need for stricter land-based regulations.
The report highlights the presence of organised crime activity in Lombardy, identifying six mafia group ’Ndrangheta-linked venues connected to the gambling sector.
Pollini stressed the importance of established regulatory tools including distance requirements between gambling venues, slot machine operating hours, restrictions on sensitive locations and legal support for municipalities.
Meanwhile, distance requirements and operating hours are being discussed within the federal framework regarding Italian land-based gambling reform.
Italian Democratic Party MPs have recently urged the Government to complete long-delayed reform by 29 August 2026, calling for a unified national framework to replace fragmented regional and municipal rules governing land-based gambling.
The Observatory on Illegal Online Gambling estimated that illegal online gambling in Italy generates around €20bn annually, with 4.5 million users and more than 13 million recorded accesses in Q1 2026
