Italy Prepares Next Phase Of Land-Based Gambling Reform

Italy is preparing the next stage of its gambling reform agenda as the government moves toward revising rules for land-based gambling. The initiative aims to harmonise standards across the country, replacing a fragmented system shaped by 20 regions and more than 100 municipalities with a single national framework.

After almost two years of negotiations with local authorities, the government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to issue a draft decree covering the management of physical gambling networks. The measures will apply nationwide to franchise operators running slot machines, bingo halls, and video lottery terminals.

The draft decree is set to be reviewed by the Council of Ministers under Italy’s fiscal delegation framework. Following cabinet approval, the proposal would advance to the Joint State–Regions Conference and parliamentary committees. No official timeline has been confirmed for implementation.

Retail Focus Follows Online Overhaul

The negotiations have been led by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, with Deputy Minister Maurizio Leo working alongside Roberto Alesse and Mario Lollobrigida of the Agency of Customs and Monopolies, which oversees gambling regulation.

The land-based reform follows the overhaul of online gambling rules that came into force in November 2025. That earlier phase introduced new licensing, tax, and compliance requirements for digital operators. Policymakers have now turned their attention to physical venues, where the reform is expected to reduce the size of the retail network in line with player protection goals.

Proposals indicate that the number of premises permitted to host slot machines, including bars and tobacconists, will fall by about 10% to roughly 40,000 locations. Betting shops will remain capped at 10,000 nationwide, and the distinction between standalone betting shops and betting corners inside hospitality venues will be removed.

Network Cuts And Safeguards

Machine numbers are also set to decline. Slot machines are expected to drop from around 240,000 units to 200,000, while VLTs will fall from approximately 55,000 to 46,000 devices.

A central feature of the reform is a new certification regime overseen by the Agency of Customs and Monopolies. Operators will need to comply with stricter standards on player protection, gambling harm prevention, and safeguards against underage access. The reform’s guiding principles include “the gradual rationalisation of the retail network and the strengthening of consumer protection across all gambling channels.”

New national distance rules will replace existing regional variations, introducing 100-metre buffers for certified venues and 200 metres for non-certified premises from sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, and treatment centres. Mandatory daily closures will also be imposed.

Alongside structural changes, the government is preparing new concession tenders for gaming machines, betting, and bingo operations. These tenders are expected to be issued by the end of the year and are projected to generate close to €2bn in additional tax revenue.

The reforms coincide with continued consolidation in Italy’s gambling sector, a trend that analysts say increasingly favours large operators while challenging smaller independent businesses.

Source:

“Italy sets next stage of gambling overhaul with retail revisions”, sbcnews.co.uk. January 27, 2026