Italy's tax reform has reached another milestone with the approval of 29 implementing decrees, but key measures affecting the gambling sector remain unresolved, according to Il Sole 24 Ore.
Operators continue to face fragmented rules
Italy's land-based gambling reform has been stalled for years, with operators continuing to navigate inconsistent regional and municipal rules covering opening hours, venue locations and distance requirements. The proposed overhaul aims to replace this fragmented framework with a unified national system, introduce new licences for AWPs, VLTs, betting shops and bingo halls, tackle the illegal market and strengthen player protections.
The long-awaited concession tender remains one of the sector's biggest unresolved issues. While repeated extensions have maintained business continuity, they have done little to encourage long-term investment, innovation or strategic planning.
Regional coordination challenges continue
Although Italy has already updated its regulatory framework for online gambling, efforts to reform the retail sector have struggled to secure political consensus. Plans to coordinate changes with regional and local authorities have made limited progress despite earlier backing from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF).
The ministry had previously secured approval from the Unified Conference for a draft reform decree and allocated €80 million through the Budget Law to support regions and municipalities. The funding was intended to establish a system for sharing a portion of gambling revenues with local authorities. However, the allocation was recently withdrawn and redirected towards broader fiscal federalism reforms, leaving the future of the gambling overhaul uncertain.
Concession extensions likely
With the 29 August 2026 deadline for approving the territorial reorganisation of the land-based gambling sector approaching, Il Sole 24 Ore reports that concessionaires are looking ahead to the next budget, when the government may be forced to approve another extension for existing bingo, betting and slot machine concessions.
However, without a comprehensive reform addressing key issues such as distances between gambling venues and sensitive locations, operating hours and stronger player protection measures, the risk of renewed and lengthy legal disputes with local authorities remains significant.
Meanwhile, the office of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reportedly rejected the long-delayed proposals to reform Italy's land-based gambling regulations last week.
The government has reportedly returned the proposed Decreto di Riordino del Gioco Fisico to the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) for further review, further extending an already lengthy legislative process.
In May, Democratic Party MPs Stefano Vaccari and Virginio Merola submitted a resolution to the Chamber of Deputies, urging the government to accelerate the reform process
