Italy’s gambling sector is set for a major transformation to establish a more uniform and secure system nationwide. Under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s leadership, the government aims to modernize regulations for retail gambling, including slot machines, betting shops, and bingo halls. Following extensive negotiations with local authorities, a draft decree introducing national regulations will soon be unveiled to address inconsistencies across Italy’s 20 regions and 110 municipalities. This reform is deemed essential for updating Italy’s gambling industry and establishing clearer, standardized practices.
**A Nationwide Retail Gambling Strategy**
The forthcoming draft decree, pending review by the Council of Ministers, seeks to unify regulations for gambling machines like slot machines and VLTs. This initiative builds on the 2024 revision of Italy’s online gambling laws. However, the retail gambling reform proves more intricate due to the need to balance national uniformity with regional revenue and tax concerns.
The reform will significantly reduce the number of gambling venues nationwide. About 10% of locations currently offering slot machines—such as bars, tobacconists, and gaming halls—will be barred from operating these machines, lowering the total number to 40,000. Betting shops will remain capped at 10,000 nationally, and the distinction between specialized betting shops and “betting corners” in bars and other venues will be removed.
A crucial element of the reform is a certification system ensuring higher standards for player protection and addiction prevention. The Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) will oversee the certification process, requiring venues to install video surveillance, prohibit minors, and create separate non-cash gaming areas accessible to minors.
Certified venues will benefit from greater operational flexibility and the ability to host more gaming devices. In contrast, non-certified venues will face stricter limitations, including longer mandatory closures. This certification initiative is vital for enhancing consumer protection across all gambling channels while reducing gambling-related harms.
**Setting New Proximity Standards for Sensitive Areas**
The reform introduces new distance regulations for sensitive locations like secondary schools, addiction treatment centers, and hospitals. Certified businesses must maintain a minimum distance of 100 meters from these areas, while non-certified ones must stay at least 200 meters away, aiming to lessen gambling’s impact on vulnerable groups, including minors and those receiving addiction treatment.
The law also imposes stricter regulations on gambling hours. Certified venues must close from 3:00 AM to 8:30 AM and 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM daily, totaling 6.5 hours of closure. Non-certified establishments will face longer closures, from 3:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, totaling 8 hours per day.
**New Concessions and Italy’s Gambling Future**
Another significant reform aspect is the introduction of new concession tenders for gaming machines, betting shops, and bingo halls. Available to businesses in the European Economic Area meeting financial and technological criteria, these auctions are expected to generate nearly €2 billion in new tax revenues, bolstering Italy’s fiscal standing.
The new concessions, as reported by AgiproNews, will be distributed across various categories. For instance, a “base” lot worth €25 million will include 4,000 advanced AWP rights and 900 VLT machines. In the betting sector, 10,000 rights will be available for sports betting, horse racing, sweepstakes, and virtual betting, auctioned in units with a minimum lot size of 25 rights, each valued at €1.4 million.
The reform coincides with ongoing consolidation in Italy’s land-based gambling market. In 2024, Lottomatica expanded by acquiring SKS365 for €650 million, adding over 1,100 betting and arcade franchises. Similarly, Flutter Entertainment made significant purchases, acquiring Sisal and Snaitech for €2 billion and €2.3 billion, respectively. These mergers have strengthened major operators’ positions in the Italian market, posing challenges for smaller, independent franchises.
While the government sees consolidation as stabilizing and enhancing compliance and consumer protection, some industry experts caution that the new framework may disproportionately affect smaller operators by increasing their operational and licensing costs. The challenge lies in creating a regulatory environment that balances large operators’ interests with the need for smaller businesses to stay competitive.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com