Italy Targets €1bn Gambling Sector Contribution for 2027 Budget
The Ministry of Finance and Economy has outlined plans to raise €1bn from gambling companies from 2027, driven by a new online licensing regime and a high-value tender for the national scratchcard concession.
- Italy's Ministry of Finance and Economy (MEF) projects a €1bn revenue contribution from the gambling sector for the 2027-2028 budget.
- Funds are expected from a new online licensing system with a €7m annual fee and a new scratchcard concession valued at approximately €1bn.
- The current scratchcard concession, held by a consortium including Allwyn and Scientific Games, is set to expire in 2028, paving the way for the new tender.
The Italian government is targeting a €1bn contribution from the gambling industry to support its 2027-2028 budget, according to projections from the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MEF). The revenue target was detailed within the 2026 Budget bill, which is expected to be presented to the Chamber of Deputies around 28 October for parliamentary debate and approval.
This move to extract additional revenue from the gambling sector is part of a comprehensive government programme aimed at securing between €7bn and €8bn for state coffers. The revenue drive is taking place against a backdrop of significant national expenditure, as the Italian Parliament recently gave its approval for a €29bn budget deviation over a two-year period. These funds have been earmarked for critical spending on energy and defence.
Licensing and Concession Reforms
A key pillar of the government's revenue projection is the recently overhauled online gambling licensing system. This new framework, which became effective in November 2025, introduced a substantial annual fee of €7m for licensees. The implementation of this fee structure is expected to be a primary driver of the increased tax take from the digital sector, representing a significant shift in the financial obligations for operators active in the Italian market.
In addition to the online licensing changes, the MEF is banking on a lucrative new tender for the national instant-win and scratchcard concession. In conjunction with the customs and monopolies agency (ADM), the ministry is structuring a new stewardship contract for the concession, which it anticipates will be valued at approximately €1bn. This figure represents the upfront value the government expects to secure from the successful bidder for the right to operate the popular scratchcard products.
The tender will mark a significant transition for the Italian lottery market, as the current concession is set to expire in 2028. The incumbent operator is Lotterie Nazionali, a joint-venture consortium. The partners in this venture include global lottery operator Allwyn, alongside Brightstar Lottery, Scientific Games, and Arianna. The conclusion of Lotterie Nazionali's term creates the opening for the government to launch the new, high-value tender process, which is central to its €1bn budget target.
The combination of the new online licensing fees and the anticipated €1bn from the scratchcard concession tender forms the basis of the MEF's forecast. The timeline indicates that the revenue from these initiatives will begin to flow into government accounts from 2027, aligning with the budget planning for that period. The industry will be watching closely as the budget bill progresses through parliament and further details of the scratchcard tender emerge, a process that will reshape the landscape for both online and lottery operators in Italy.
