Italy to raise €700m from gambling in 2027 budget

Budget approved with gambling revenue

Giorgia Meloni has confirmed that gambling will fund €700m of Italy’s 2027 budget. Italy’s Council of Ministers approved the draft 2027 budget on 28 October 2026. The package is worth roughly €26bn.

The government’s draft budgetary plan expects €718m from gambling in both 2027 and 2028, and €478m in 2029. Across 2027-2029, the government pencils in nearly €2bn from gambling.

Levy increases and concession extensions

Land-based slot, betting and bingo concessions would be extended to 31 December 2029 for about €305m in 2027.

The PREU levy on AWP slot machines would go from 24% to 25% of stakes, estimated to raise €150m. The VLT rate would move from 8.6% to 9.6%, worth €165m. Together, the quantified gaming measures would raise about €770m in 2027.

Industry warns of job losses

EGP-FIPE, the association of venues offering licensed gaming, warned on 29 October that a higher machine levy would make at least 20% of specialist gaming halls unprofitable and put thousands of jobs at risk.

2025 market performance

Italy’s total gaming turnover reached €165.33bn in 2025, up 5% on 2024. Gross gaming spend was €21.869bn in 2025, up 1.36%.

The state’s tax take from gambling was €11.5bn in 2025, roughly flat on €11.6bn the year before. Revenue grew strongly from virtual betting (+23.14%) and online casino and cash games (+17.74%).