SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
To the delight of the taxman, Italy’s gambling sector continues to demonstrate resilient growth and deliver a rising fiscal contribution to the government.
ADM, Italy’s Customs and Monopolies Agency provided a “comprehensive update” on “Italian Gambling’s performance and regulatory direction” during the summit in Rome on 21 May, the meeting of state agencies, with much to talk about.
Happy government
The Agency presented “figures for 2024 pointing to a market in solid health”. Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) reached €21.6bn, marking a 4.4% increase year-on-year. This expansion was driven chiefly by the online sector, which saw a 17% uplift in GGR to €5bn, compared with €4.3bn in 2023.
Retail gambling also held steady, increasing modestly from €16.3bn to €16.5bn. Online betting continues to outpace traditional channels in terms of volume. Total online wagers exceeded €92bn, compared to roughly €65bn from land-based gambling, bringing the national wager total to €157.5bn.
Most importantly for audiences in attendance, tax revenues from gambling remained consistent at €11.6bn — confirming the sector’s steady contribution to the Treasury.
Beyond strong fiscal headline metrics, ADM presented its tougher regulatory stance, installed under directorship Roberto Alesse, who has led the agency since 2023.
Enforcement activities have intensified, with the regulator conducting over 19,000 inspections across gambling venues in 2024. This led to the issuance of 3,319 administrative sanctions and the blocking of 721 unlicensed gambling websites. Tax assessments from enforcement actions alone reached €72.5m, underlining ADM’s renewed focus on compliance and integrity.
“The sector’s resilience and fiscal importance are evident,” stated Roberto Alesse, ADM’s Director General. “But it is equally important that our oversight remains rigorous, particularly as the market becomes more digitised.”
Lotto tender lands on time
This dual-track strategy, encouraging growth while reinforcing controls, was also reflected in ADM’s handling of the long-awaited online gaming and Lotto Italia tenders.
The deadline for online licence applications is set for 30 May 2025. The process is expected to raise €350m upfront, with an additional 3% annual fee from licence holders.
Alesse commented that the tender “will ensure immediate and steady revenues for the State,” highlighting its role as both a fiscal lever and a tool to reinforce transparency in the sector.
A major milestone was reached with the award of the Lotto concession—one of Italy’s largest public gaming contracts. The tender, hailed as a “success” by Deputy Economy Minister Maurizio Leo, was won by the Lottoitalia consortium, composed of IGT, Allwyn, Novomatic, and the Tobacco Retailers Federation.
The €2.23bn bid far surpassed the €1bn starting price and beat a strong proposal from Sisal, Flutter Entertainment’s Italian subsidiary.
The tender was competitive to the last decimal. On the technical criteria, Lottoitalia scored 40 points to Sisal’s 38.9, while the financial offer was awarded 60 points versus 59.4 — resulting in a final tally of 100 to 98.3.
The concession runs for nine years through November 2034, with payments structured in three installments: €500m and €300m in 2025, and the balance due by April 2026. The contract sets a 6% commission on wagers and an additional 8% fee for B2C online gaming activities.
For ADM, the successful conclusion of the Lotto concession represents not just a regulatory win but a signal of institutional capability. It was conducted on schedule, with a transparent scoring mechanism and strong competition, reinforcing investor confidence in Italy’s gaming framework.
Retail reforms
Looking ahead, regulatory focus now turns to reforming the land-based gambling sector. “We are holding crucial discussions with the Regions,” said Leo, referring to Italy’s decentralised regulatory structure.
Leo confirmed that a draft bill has been submitted to Parliament, proposing an extension of the legislative timetable to 31 December 2025 to finalise reforms.
“It’s a delicate issue,” Leo told agencies:, “touching on matters such as minimum distance rules and tackling problem gambling. It doesn’t involve only the Ministry of Economy and the Regulator, but necessarily requires dialogue with regional and local authorities.”
While online gambling is growing rapidly, the ADM emphasised that digital channels will complement, not replace, retail networks. “As seen in the UK, digitalisation enhances market access and oversight but must be balanced with the physical ecosystem,” noted Alesse.
The current trajectory indicates a regulator in command, a market growing with discipline, and a policy agenda that aims to modernise while maintaining social safeguards. ADM’s spring clean-up demonstrates why Italy can be recognised as Europe’s most efficiently regulated market.
