Italy Targets Gambling Revenue in 2027 Draft Budgetary Plan

Italy’s government is looking to extract additional revenue from the gambling sector to fund public spending initiatives under its 2027 Draft Budgetary Plan. Approved by the Council of Ministers on October 13, 2026, and presented by Economy and Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, the multi-year fiscal framework positions regulated gaming alongside banking and corporate sectors as a primary source of state revenue over the next three years.

Economic Projections and Revenue Expectations

According to macro-economic forecasts published by Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), planned gambling measures are expected to generate additional state revenue equivalent to 0.03 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in both 2027 and 2028, before tapering to 0.02 percent of GDP in 2029. Based on projected national GDP growth, the measure is estimated to yield approximately €720 million in 2027 alone, contributing to a combined multi-year fiscal contribution of around €1 billion through 2029. The gaming sector's target forms part of a broader revenue-generation strategy designed to control public borrowing, as the government projects Italy’s budget deficit to temporarily widen from 2.9 percent of GDP in 2026 to 3.4 percent in 2027, before declining to 3.2 percent in 2028 and 2.3 percent in 2029. Financial institutions will bear the largest corporate burden, with bank and insurer contributions projected at 0.21 percent of GDP in 2027.

Regulatory Options and Implementation Ambiguity

While the Draft Budgetary Plan establishes macro-economic revenue targets, the MEF has not yet detailed the specific operational mechanisms or legislative levers it will deploy across the gambling sector. Industry analysts and legal observers point to several policy options currently under evaluation, including accelerating the licensing tender for the national instant lottery and scratchcard concession currently operated by the Lotterie Nazionali joint venture which could generate up to €1 billion in upfront concession fees if brought forward to 2027. Authorities are also examining higher fee structures for extending expiring land-based bingo, retail betting, and amusement machine concessions. Following the implementation of the €7 million online concession framework in late 2025, the MEF and the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) are reviewing updated auditing protocols focused on tightening accounting definitions for player winnings, financial transaction tracking, and withdrawal recordings across digital platforms. Additionally, policymakers have not ruled out direct adjustments to tax rates across specific verticals, including online sports betting, land-based gaming machines, or lottery products. Clarification on whether the measures will rely on upfront concession sales, technical accounting adjustments, or direct tax increases will emerge when the draft budget legislation is formally introduced to the Italian Parliament for debate.