Italy Plans Sweeping Reform to Unify Land-Based Gambling Rules Nationwide

Italy is preparing to introduce a far-reaching overhaul of its land-based gambling sector, with the aim of harmonising regulations across the country’s 20 regions and more than 110 municipalities.

The government is expected to publish a draft decree setting out a single national framework for slot machines, bingo halls and video lottery terminal (VLT) systems, which would apply uniformly to all franchise operators.

The draft decree has been drawn up following almost two years of discussions between central government and local authorities. The measure will be examined under Italy’s fiscal delegation process and, if approved by the Council of Ministers, will subsequently be submitted to the Joint State–Regions Conference and the relevant parliamentary committees. At this stage, however, no specific timeline has been established for when the new rules might come into force.

Talks between the parties have focused on striking a balance between creating consistent national standards and addressing regional concerns, particularly in relation to taxation, possible revenue shortfalls, compensation arrangements and the potential impact on local budgets.

The planned land-based reform forms part of a broader restructuring of Italy’s gambling framework, which the government intentionally divided into two phases. The first phase targeted online gambling and took effect in November 2025, introducing new licensing conditions, revised tax structures and strengthened compliance obligations for digital operators.

With the online segment already reshaped, policy attention has now shifted to the retail market. Authorities have signalled that the reform will involve a significant rationalisation of Italy’s physical gambling presence, in line with objectives around consumer protection and the prevention of gambling-related harm.

Preliminary indications suggest that the number of premises allowed to host slot machines — including bars, tobacconists and dedicated gaming halls — could be cut by around 10%, reducing the nationwide total to approximately 40,000 venues. Betting shops would continue to be capped at 10,000 locations, while the long-established distinction between standalone betting shops and “betting corners” situated inside hospitality venues would be removed.

The overall number of gaming machines is also set to fall. Slot machines could be reduced from roughly 240,000 units to around 200,000, while the number of VLTs would decrease by about 20%, from 55,000 to approximately 46,000 devices.

A cornerstone of the reform will be the introduction of a new certification system overseen by the Agency of Customs and Monopolies (ADM), the body responsible for supervising Italy’s gambling market. Operators applying for licences or franchises would be required to prove compliance with stricter standards on player protection, gambling-harm prevention measures and robust controls designed to prevent underage gambling.

The decree is also expected to establish national rules on minimum distances from so-called “sensitive locations,” replacing the current patchwork of regional provisions. Under the proposed framework, certified venues would need to maintain a buffer zone of 100 metres, while non-certified outlets would be subject to a 200-metre distance requirement. Sensitive locations are expected to include secondary schools, addiction treatment facilities and hospitals.

In addition, opening hours would be further regulated. Certified venues would be required to close for at least six and a half hours each day, while non-certified premises would face mandatory daily closure periods of eight hours.

Alongside the regulatory changes, the government is preparing to launch new concession tenders covering gaming machines, betting and bingo operations. These tenders are scheduled for publication by the end of the year and are projected to generate close to €2 billion (US$2.3 billion) in additional tax revenue for the state.

By fLEXI tEAM