Italy's MEF eyes €1bn gambling levy for 2027 Budget
Rome's finance ministry projects gambling operators will contribute roughly €1bn in 2027-2028 as part of a wider fiscal package, though the specific charges remain unsettled, SBC News reports.
Italy's Ministry of Finance and Economy expects gambling companies to generate close to €1bn in revenue for the state across 2027 and 2028, according to SBC News. The figure is built into the Meloni government's preparations for the 2027 Budget Law.
The projection rests on a series of changes already under way in how online gambling is licensed, audited and technically regulated. A revised licensing framework carrying a €7m annual fee took effect in November 2025, and the MEF intends to pair it with new auditing rules covering online gambling accounts.
Those auditing changes would alter how operators record player winnings and withdrawals under online gambling concessions. The government is also looking at higher fees for operators seeking to extend existing concessions.
Gambling is one strand of a broader revenue drive. The Meloni government is targeting between €7bn and €8bn overall, drawing additional contributions from banks, insurers and energy companies. Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti has said that "everyone who can, will contribute" as Rome tries to fund spending pledges without loosening its overall budget constraints.
Settling the 2027 Budget Law is a priority for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as the country heads into its 2027 election cycle, with the measures also seen as a way to reinforce Fratelli d'Italia's position within the ruling coalition.
Scratchcard tender remains open question
What ultimately makes it into the final budget text is still unresolved. The proposals span online gambling, treatment of winnings and withdrawals, and concession fees, but SBC News notes that no rates, charges or timetable have been fixed.
A separate decision awaits in Parliament over whether to let the Customs and Monopolies Agency run a tender for Italy's instant-win and scratchcard concession. That concession is currently held by Lotterie Nazionali, a joint venture between Brightstar Lottery, Scientific Games, Arianna and Allwyn, and is due to expire in 2028.
One option being examined would bring the tender forward to 2027, with the MEF and the Customs and Monopolies Agency pursuing a stewardship contract worth around €1bn. SBC News describes this as one of several options still under consideration rather than a confirmed measure.
The wider budget planning follows parliamentary approval of a €29bn two-year deviation for energy and defence spending. How much fiscal room the government ultimately has will depend in part on talks with the European Commission over flexibility in that spending.
Giorgetti has struck a cautious note on the public finances, warning that "clouds are gathering on the horizon." The Brussels negotiations will also shape whether Italy can fund additional support for households facing high energy costs alongside its other commitments.
SBC News reports that the budget bill is due before the Chamber of Deputies around 28 October, when gambling operators should learn whether the €1bn figure will take the form of new taxes, concession fees or other charges.