Italy Overhauls Land-Based Casino Regulations in Major Gaming Industry Reform

Italy is implementing sweeping changes to its land-based casino regulations as part of a broader effort to modernize its gambling industry. The reforms aim to boost compliance, combat illegal gambling, and strengthen player safeguards across one of Europe’s largest gambling markets.

Key Takeaways:

• Italy’s Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) is doubling casino inspections starting in 2025
• New AI-powered monitoring systems will track player behavior and detect fraud
• Land-based gambling generated €16.5 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2024
• Industry experts praise addiction safeguards but warn about potential privacy concerns

The Italian government has embarked on a major overhaul of its gambling regulations, with significant changes for land-based casinos set to take effect throughout 2025 and beyond.

The reforms fall under the Reorganization of Gambling Decree approved by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration in 2023, with implementation now accelerating through the ADM’s 2025-2027 Activity and Organisation Plan (PIAO).

“These reforms represent the most substantial changes to Italy’s gambling market in over a decade,” said Marco Bianchini, a gambling policy analyst at the University of Milan. “The government is walking a tightrope between maximizing tax revenue and addressing growing concerns about gambling harm.”

Enhanced Oversight and Technology Integration

A cornerstone of the reforms is dramatically enhanced regulatory oversight. The ADM plans to double the number of inspections at physical casinos and betting shops starting in 2025, deploying teams across the country to verify compliance with the new regulations.

The agency is also introducing advanced monitoring technologies, including an AI-driven Integrated Control System (SIC) that will track transactions and player behavior across all licensed platforms in real-time. This system aims to flag suspicious patterns that might indicate fraud, problem gambling, or money laundering activities.

“The technology lets us spot issues as they happen, not days or weeks later,” explained ADM Commissioner Lucia Romano during a recent industry briefing. “We’re creating a safety net that protects players while identifying illegal operators who undermine the regulated market.”

Economic Impact and Market Dynamics

The stakes are high for Italy’s gambling industry, which generated approximately €21.5 billion in gross gaming revenue during 2024. Land-based gambling—including casinos, betting shops, and gaming machines—accounted for €16.5 billion of that total, making it significantly larger than the online sector.

From a tax perspective, physical gambling establishments contributed €10.2 billion to government coffers last year, compared to just €1.3 billion from online gambling operations. These figures highlight why the government is investing heavily in strengthening the land-based segment despite the growing popularity of online platforms.

A primary target of the reforms is Italy’s flourishing black market for gambling, estimated to cost the country nearly €1 billion annually in lost tax revenue. By strengthening enforcement mechanisms and creating more attractive legal alternatives, authorities hope to channel players away from unregulated operations.

Player Protection Measures

The reforms place considerable emphasis on protecting vulnerable players, introducing a nationwide self-exclusion registry that allows individuals to ban themselves from all gambling venues for periods ranging from 30 days to indefinite exclusion.

Other player protection measures include:

• Mandatory deposit limits for players
• Automated warnings for patterns of high-risk behavior
• Enhanced ID verification requirements
• Strengthened advertising restrictions under the Dignity Decree

These controls build upon Italy’s existing marketing limitations, which have prohibited gambling advertising across most media since 2018. The advertising ban has remained controversial, with sports leagues claiming it has resulted in approximately €700 million in lost tax revenue over three years by pushing players toward unregulated offshore operators.

Industry Response and Challenges

The reform package has received mixed reviews from industry stakeholders. Casino operators have criticized the government for increasing licensing fees by up to 35 times previous levels without adequate consultation.

The reforms have already shown measurable impacts on revenue streams. Monthly online gambling tax receipts have plunged from €55 million to approximately €10 million following implementation of the first wave of changes, raising concerns about the financial viability of some operators.

Christian Lowe, director of player advocacy at SlotJava, offered a balanced assessment: “We applaud the government’s commitment to addressing gambling addiction through technology and stronger controls. However, there needs to be careful balancing between player tracking and privacy rights. Too much intrusion could simply drive players back to the black market.”

International Context and Future Outlook

Italy’s regulatory overhaul comes amid similar efforts across Europe to modernize gambling frameworks. The United Kingdom, Spain, and Germany have all introduced reform packages in recent years, though Italy’s approach is distinguished by its emphasis on technological solutions and strict enforcement.

Looking ahead, the ADM plans to gradually phase in additional measures through 2027, with a particular focus on enhancing cooperation between financial intelligence units and gambling regulators to combat money laundering.

“What we’re seeing in Italy could become a blueprint for other European countries,” noted Alessandro Prandi, a gaming policy researcher at the European Gambling Studies Institute. “The question is whether these reforms can successfully bring underground gambling into the regulated sphere, or if they’ll simply add burdens to legitimate operators while illegal gambling continues to thrive.”

As the reforms continue to roll out over the coming years, Italy’s approach will be closely watched by regulators and industry leaders worldwide as a potential model for balancing revenue generation, player protection, and market integrity.

Sources:

• GamblingNews
• ADM PIAO Report
• Ecogra Market Analysis
• SBC News