Italy prepares for a profound reform of land-based gambling

The Italian government is taking a decisive step towards harmonising the regulation of gambling presencethroughout the country. The Council of Ministers is preparing to submit to Parliament a draft decree that will introduce uniform national standards for land-based gambling establishments, including slot machine locations, bookmakers and bingo halls.

The proposed reform comes after nearly two years of negotiations between the central government and regional authorities, and comes after Italy reformed its online gambling regulatory framework in November 2025. Although an official implementation timeline has not yet been announced, the decree is expected to transform the structure and dimension of the land-based gambling market in Italy.

A national framework for land-based gaming

According to the bill, the government headed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni seeks to standardize the management of gaming networks in the country's 20 regions and more than 110 municipalities. The regulation will have national application and will reach concessionaire operators of gaming machines, video lottery terminals (VLT), bookmakers and bingo halls.

According to statements released to local media, the Council of Ministers will evaluate the decree within the framework of the Italian tax delegation. Once approved by Parliament, the text will go to the State-Regions Conference and the corresponding parliamentary committees for analysis.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance has led negotiations with senior officials of the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM), the body in charge of overseeing the gambling market. Talks have focused on balancing regulatory coherence at the national level with regional concerns about taxation, revenue, and local budgets.

Land-based gambling reform follows changes in online gambling

The reform of land-based gambling is part of a broader restructuring of Italy's gambling system, which the government has divided into online and retail phases. In November 2025, the country introduced far-reaching changes to online gambling regulation, including new licensing, taxation, and regulatory compliance requirements for digital operators.

Now, the focus is on the face-to-face sector, where authorities anticipate a gradual reduction in the total footprint of gambling. Initial estimates indicate that the number of premises with slot machines could decrease by around 10%, to about 40,000 locations throughout the national territory.

The number of bookmakers will remain limited to 10,000, while the current distinction between specialized bookmakers and betting points within hospitality establishments will be eliminated. The number of slot machines is also expected to be reduced from around 240,000 to 200,000 units, and VLTs from around 55,000 to 46,000.

Reinforcement of player protection measures

One of the central axes of the reform is the introduction of a new certification system supervised by the ADM. Under the proposed rules, operators will have to meet stricter standards for player protection, responsible gambling and prevention of access by minors.

The authorities have noted that the guiding principles of the reform are the "gradual rationalization of the retail network" and the strengthening of consumer protection in all gaming channels.

New minimum distance rules will also be introduced. Certified establishments must be located at least 100 meters from sensitive places such as schools, hospitals and addiction treatment centers, while non-certified establishments must respect a minimum distance of 200 meters.

In addition, the decree will impose stricter controls on opening hours. Certified establishments must close at least six and a half hours a day, while non-certified establishments must comply with daily closing periods of eight hours.

New concessions and economic impact

Along with the regulatory changes, the Italian government is preparing new concession tenders for the operation of gaming machines, betting houses and bingo halls. The framework for these concessions is expected to be defined before the end of the year and to generate around 2,000 million euros in tax revenues.

Once the legislation comes into force, regional and municipal governments will have to adapt their local regulations to the new national framework, marking the final phase of the reform of land-based gambling in Italy and a significant step towards regulatory uniformity across the country.