Key Moments:
- The 2026 Budget Law is set to play a pivotal role in shaping new land-based gaming concessions in Italy.
- Panelists have observed that measures like distance requirements have led to increased illegal gambling rather than reduced activity.
- Industry leaders have highlighted the necessity of updating gaming machines and harmonizing taxation between land-based and online operations.
Upcoming Reforms to Italian Land-Based Gaming
The public debate around Italy’s gaming sector has reached a defining phase, involving much more than the online segment. Operators, industry representatives, and trade organizations are united in recognizing that the next several months will be critical for an industry generating over €12 billion annually in state income and employing tens of thousands nationwide.
The 2026 Budget Law is positioned as a landmark opportunity, setting the framework for new land-based concessions and moving toward a more balanced relationship between the State, Regions, and local authorities. This topic took center stage during a panel at the SiGMA Central Europe Summit at Fiera Roma, which examined the path forward for Italy’s “Grand Gaming Reform.”
Coordination Among Governmental Bodies
During the summit, Andrea de Bertoldi, MP and Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy, emphasized the importance of fostering cooperation across different levels of government. Fragmented regulations have produced uncertainty across municipalities, with rules on distance limits, operating hours, and licensing also diverging from one area to another.
Including regions in the allocation of gaming tax revenue has been presented as a way to increase economic fairness and promote joint responsibility for oversight and player protection. The overarching objective is to develop a collaborative system where public gaming is properly regulated, monitored, and recognized as a socially responsible activity.
Panelists also highlighted the disparity in taxation between online and land-based gaming, noting how this inequity gives rise to internal competition that detracts from the viability of the physical retail gaming network.
Land-Based Venues as Legality Hubs
Giuseppe Volpe, Managing Partner at Cuiprodest, underscored the vital role of physical gaming devices in providing state-supervised legality and resistance to illicit gambling activities.
He argued that reducing the number of legal, land-based machines without an organized strategy does not cut overall gambling. Instead, player activity moves toward unauthorized channels. Volpe also pointed out that public discourse often conflates problem gambling with the law-abiding side of the business, when the true focus should be upholding a safe, transparent, and legal environment.
Effectiveness of Restrictive Measures Questioned
Francesco Gatti, Founder and CEO of Bull Gaming, and Emilio Zamparelli, Chairman of STS – FIT, raised concerns about the actual impact of policies such as minimum distance requirements and limits on gaming hours. These measures, intended to protect at-risk individuals, may have inadvertently intensified underlying risks by nudging players away from legal, regulated venues — and in some cases, encouraging illegal gambling.
Their analysis found that economic damage, including reduced tax revenue and job losses, followed shifts in player behavior and an eroding legal marketplace. In practice, many establishments have either closed or had to move their operations, with ripple effects felt throughout the industry’s supply chain.
“By applying a rule meant to protect the player, we have probably exposed them to greater risks.”
— Francesco Gatti
Fiscal and Technological Challenges
A recurring theme from the discussions was the imbalance between retail and online gaming. Retail operators are operating older machines, face more aggressive “upstream” taxation, and cannot match the technical sophistication or flexibility of online platforms.
Gatti advocated for immediate updates to physical devices — including higher payout rates, moderated maximum winnings between €100 and €200, and new technological features — to safeguard players and provide a gaming experience on par with digital offerings.
There was also a call for a transitional measure to support operators until the new concession cycle planned for 2027–2028, thus preventing stagnation driven by obsolete equipment.
Preserving the Traditional Retail Network
Emilio Zamparelli spoke to the historic role of local operators such as bars, tobacconists, and gaming halls as the industry’s foundation. The ongoing wave of restrictive measures threatens these small, family-run businesses, which serve as the economic backbone of local communities.
Panelists promoted the idea of returning a share of gaming tax revenue to local governments, mirroring policies found in certain other European systems. Such an approach could help ensure the sustainability of legal gaming networks at the community level.
Key Highlights Table
| Key Issue | Current Status | Proposed Change |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Law 2026 | Pending pivotal reforms | Set framework for new concessions |
| Land-Based vs. Online Taxation | Significant disparity | Move towards harmonization |
| Gaming Machine Update | Outdated devices in operation | Introduce advanced, higher-payout machines |
| Proceeds Distribution | Centralized with the State | Return part to local communities |
Conclusion
Italy’s land-based gaming sector stands at a major crossroads. Policymakers, businesses, and local communities await decisions that will not only redefine regulatory structures but also influence the social and economic health of one of Italy’s longstanding industries.
- Author
Daniel Williams
