The Italian Ministry of the Economy and Finance (MEF) has announced that the gambling industry has brought in €4.5bn ($5bn) in the first nine months of the year.
According to the Ragioneria Generale dello Stato, which operates under the MEF, tax levies on games of chance accounted for €3.5bn, whereas revenue from gambling activity made up 8% of the total.
Tax Generated from Gambling 2026 YTD (€m)
Nevertheless, when compared to the first nine months of 2025, tax revenue has seen a slight decrease. Last year, the industry generated €4.8bn, 6% more than 2026.
However, revenue generated from gambling activities and the 40% share of the single tax on games of skill and prediction competitions was lower than the current nine-month period.
In Italy's draft 2027 budget, a revised single tax levy on gaming machines was proposed for the new year. The proposed rate would be 25% of stakes for slots and 9.6% for another category of machines.
Moreover, in October, the Italian Cabinet approved the final financial bill under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which includes a 1-percentage-point increase in single tax levy and an extension to land-based licences for betting, slot machines, VLTs and bingo.
Despite banning gambling advertising, Italy still represents a lucrative market for operators. In 2025, the market reached a record €165.3bn in volume, representing 7.3% of national GDP.
Digitain recently appoints a new Head of Sales for the region to help foster relationships with Italian operators and navigate the regulatory framework of the country.
Gambling revenue in Italy reached €21.8bn in 2025, equal to 2% of total income across the country
