Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed that the gambling sector will fund €700m of the country's 2027 budget. The Council of Ministers approved the draft on 28 October. The total package is worth roughly €26bn. Meloni did not specify which segments of the industry would bear the cost, but asked those 'facing fewer problems' to help. The specific measures have not been published and Parliament can still amend the bill.
The government's own forecast is higher than the figure cited: €718m in both 2027 and 2028, and €478m in 2029. Across three years, nearly €2bn. According to a draft leaked to Jamma on 29 October, the burden falls on land-based concessions and gaming machines. Slot, betting and bingo licences would be extended to 31 December 2029 for €305m in 2027. The Gratta e Vinci scratchcard concession would also be extended for an upfront payment.
Machine levies would rise. The PREU rate on AWP slots would go from 24% to 25% of stakes, raising €150m. The VLT rate would move from 8.6% to 9.6%, worth €165m. Together, the quantified measures would raise about €770m in 2027 — more than Meloni cited. None of these items targets online. Venue operators, machine concessionaires and land-based licence holders take the hit, not online brands. The measures arrive shortly after Italy's online licence tender.
Venue association EGP-FIPE warned on 29 October that higher machine levies would make at least 20% of specialist gaming halls unprofitable and put thousands of jobs at risk. Italy's total gaming turnover reached €165.33bn in 2025, up 5% on 2024. Gross gaming spend was €21.869bn, up 1.36%. Tax revenue from gambling was €11.5bn in 2025, nearly flat on €11.6bn the year before. Virtual betting grew 23.14% and online casino and cash games 17.74%. A package weighted towards machines and halls leans on land-based products rather than the growing online segments.
The final terms will be known after the bill clears Parliament. The Chamber and the Senate must approve it by the end of the year.
