On April 10th, 2026, Italy entered the final phase of a reform widely discussed among numerous representatives of the gambling market in Europe. The document, which was long negotiated at the government and regional levels, establishes a new model for regulating the offline gaming segment.
The sphere faces a complete overhaul that affects local casino licensing, facility requirements, and authorities' powers. For operators, this shift means moving to stricter, yet uniform, rules.
New Approach and Strengthened Oversight
The initiative aims to address the market’s main issue — disparate supervision at the regional and municipal levels. The final draft consolidates the transition to a more harmonised governance model for the ground sector.
The document describes the following changes:
- standardisation of demands for facility location and terms for service provision;
- a distance of 100+ meters from socially significant objects (education institutions, medical organisations, etc);
- a new concession system covering various land-based gambling verticals;
- operator and site certification as a mandatory condition for jurisdiction access;
- working hour restrictions, which will be unified for all representatives;
- enhanced oversight, including AML measures by the ADM regulator.
Additionally, a permanent committee to monitor risk-play rates is being created. It aims to strengthen the social dimension of supervisory requirements for responsible business management.
Revised Concession Structure and Entry Fees
The draft proposes an updated certification model with clear financial benchmarks:
- Gambling machines — starting bid from €25 million for projects comprising 4,000 prize cabinets and 900 VLTs.
- Retail gaming — package deal combining 25 licences at €60,000 each, with a base price of €1.5 million.
- Bingo halls — approximately €350,000 per facility, with the coverage of around 210 properties.
These conditions raise the entry threshold. At the same time, they simplify the national industry structure and make it more transparent.
Special attention is paid to interaction with regional bodies, an issue that previously caused the most controversy. A more balanced model is offered with a revenue-sharing mechanism bringing €80 million to local budgets and expanding the role of smaller-scope authorities in enforcing rules. This decision should reduce tensions and streamline the transition to the revised norms.
Reasons for the Changes: Market Pressure
Several factors noticeably influencing the industry have accelerated the reform:
- a drop in tax revenues of approximately €250 million in 2025;
- the growth of the illegal segment amid regulatory uncertainty;
- August 29th, 2026 — the final day for the initiative’s adoption;
- the expiration of the current certificates by the end of the year.
As a result, the government is focusing on strengthening oversight and systematically updating standards to stabilise the sector and reduce risks. The transition to a new model with stricter conditions and a clearer economic framework will help shape a more predictable development environment in Italy.
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