Italy Revises Its Legislation for the Land-Based Gambling Vertical

The market is undergoing a comprehensive transformation that impacts casino licensing, venue standards, and the authority of regulatory bodies. For operators, this transition signifies a move towards more rigorous, yet unified, rules.

New Model and Enhanced Supervision

The initiative seeks to resolve the sector’s core challenge — fragmented oversight at the regional and municipal tiers. The final draft consolidates the transition towards a more harmonised governance framework for the land-based gambling segment.

Key provisions include:

• standardised requirements for venue location and service terms;
• a mandatory distance of 100+ meters from socially sensitive sites (schools, hospitals, etc);
• a new concession system covering multiple offline gaming niches;
• operator and facility licensing as an obligatory condition for market access;
• unified restrictions on operating hours for all representatives;
• strengthened supervision, including AML measures enforced by the ADM regulator.

In addition, a permanent committee will be established to monitor risk-play rates, reinforcing the social dimension of oversight standards for responsible business conduct.

Updated Concession System and Entry Fees

The document introduces a revised licensing framework with clear financial benchmarks:

1. Gambling cabinets — a starting bid of €25 million for enterprises with 4,000 casino machines and 900 VLTs.
2. Retail gaming — a package of 25 certificates at €60,000 each, with a base cost of €1.5 million.
3. Bingo halls — around €350,000 per venue, covering approximately 210 properties.

These conditions increase the entry barrier while simplifying the domestic market’s structure and enhancing transparency.

Special emphasis is placed on cooperation with regional authorities — previously the most contentious issue. A more balanced approach is introduced, incorporating a revenue-sharing mechanism expected to bring €80 million to local treasuries, while expanding the role of smaller-scale regulators in rule enforcement. This strategy is designed to ease tensions and facilitate a smoother transition to the updated standards.

Reasons Behind the Reform: Market Pressure

The following factors significantly impacting the sphere have expedited the reform:

• a decline in tax profits of roughly €250 million in 2025;
• the expansion of the shadow sector amid regulatory ambiguity;
• August 29th, 2026, set as the deadline for the initiative’s adoption;
• the expiration of the existing licences by year-end.

Consequently, the government is prioritising the enhancement of supervisory mechanisms and the systematic revision of standards to stabilise the industry and mitigate associated risks. The transition to a new model, characterised by more stringent conditions and a clearer economic framework, is expected to create a more predictable environment for future development in Italy.