Italy’s government has approved 2027 Budget Law draft, with gambling expected to contribute €700m in tax revenue. The estimate is lower than earlier projections ranging from €400m–€500m to €1bn.
Italy is said to use the gambling revenue to finance a larger plan worth €26bn in 2027 and €27m in 2028. The budget must first be approved by parliament and specific ways to generate income from gambling are yet to be clarified. The new budget plan does not suggest a new tender for the Gratta e Vinci scratch-card concession, which has a deadline of September 2028. The government is still deciding whether to organize a tender or just prolong the concession for a compensation.
In addition to that, the process of reorganizing the brick-and-mortar gambling sector in Italy is slow. The customs and monopolies agency has been instructed to prolong the retail license till the end of 2028, so no permanent solution is expected.
The budget comes at the time when the online gambling market in Italy adjusts to the new system implemented in November 2025.
Flutter Entertainment, which operates brands including Sisal, Snai, PokerStars, tombola and Betfair in Italy, is closing Betfair’s Italian operations while continuing to focus on its other local businesses.
The government has yet to confirm which gambling products or taxes will bear the additional costs. Potential measures include higher taxes on gaming machines and more expensive concession extensions, but the final details will emerge as the budget progresses through parliament.
