Italy Weighs €400-500m Gambling Sector Contribution for 2027 Budget
Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) is weighing provisional measures that could draw between €400 million and €500 million from the country's regulated gambling sector as part of its 2027 Budget Law, according to Italian financial daily ItaliaOggi.
The proposals have not yet been formally included in the draft Budget Law and remain subject to change as the government finalises its spending plans ahead of a general election.
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A Stalled Reform Forces An Extension
The gambling sector's expected contribution, which includes that from sports betting, is tied to a stalled reorganisation of Italy's retail betting and gaming network.
A fiscal delegation that was meant to produce a wider reform of the distribution network expired on August 29 without an agreement between the state and Italy's regions, leaving the government little choice but to extend existing concessions rather than complete a full overhaul before the new budget.
That extension is expected to come with renewed licence fees for operators, which the government is counting on as a funding source for its final budget before the next election.
Tighter Controls, Not Just New Money
The gambling reference sits alongside a broader MEF push, outlined in its Act of Guidance for 2027-2029 priorities, to strengthen tax enforcement and revenue recovery across gambling, customs and excise duties.
That planning document, signed by Economy and Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, does not itself propose new gambling taxes, focusing instead on tighter monitoring and compliance.
Italy's gambling and betting receipts have already been running ahead of expectations in 2026, with the government citing over €807 million in additional gambling-related revenue in its most recent budget adjustment, giving the Treasury extra incentive to keep the sector as a reliable contributor heading into the 2027 Budget process.
Concession Fees Expected To Rise
Local reporting has framed the extension as “onerous but sustainable” for existing physical-network concession holders, meaning operators are expected to face higher renewal fees without a wholesale restructuring of licence terms while the state waits for a fuller reorganisation of the retail betting and gaming network.
The debate comes against a backdrop of a struggling physical gaming machine segment and continued growth in online gambling, adding pressure on the government to balance support for land-based venues against its need for reliable tax revenue as the 2027 election approaches.
