Gaming

Urgent gaming reform to protect citizens and ensure the resilience of the system

For Agic rewrite of rules to be approved quickly for the maintenance of the tax revenue system. Pd resolution in the House Finance Committee to reduce supply and strengthen controls

by Marco Mobili

9 May 2026

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Uncertainties for operators and institutions
System resilience at risk
Reorganisation of the sector is urgent
Where the reform points
The obligation of certified operators
Distances

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

"The record growth of gaming in Italia requires an immediate turnaround. We need an organic reform that reduces supply, strengthens controls and protects citizens and territories". To put it in black and white are the Democratic Party deputies Stefano Vaccari and Virginio Merola in a resolution presented in the Finance Committee of the Chamber of Deputies and already hinged by its chairman Marco Osnato.

The document commits the government to arrive at a legislative decree on the reorganisation of physical gaming within the deadline set by the delegation to the executive for the fiscal reform (29 August 2026).

Uncertainties for operators and institutions

"The delay on a reform foreseen by the enabling act is no longer acceptable. Without a national intervention there will remain regulatory fragmentation and uncertainty for operators and institutions. We need to overcome the current chaos between state, regional and municipal regulations and ensure a clear and shared framework," Vaccari and Merola stress.

System resilience at risk

The rewriting of the rules of the game is only half done. As emphasised by Gennaro Schettino, president of Agic, the Association of Concessionary Gaming and Entertainment "it is increasingly urgent to give uniform rules on the national territory by rationally reducing supply and increasing the levels of safety and protection for players".

And for this, Schettino adds, it is necessary 'to complete the gaming reform in Italia. To date we have stopped at the review of online gaming. Now we need to complete the path mapped out by the delegation, also because the numbers say that the current system of physical gaming has more than one crack" As the president of Agic recalls, "not only does the latest research on the illegal gaming market now estimate over 30 billion in revenue that escapes the State.

On the other hand, looking at state revenues, the drop in revenue also continues unabated, reaching -250 million in 2025, at least as far as the apparatus sector is concerned, and even the figures recently published by the Department of Finance show a -7.4% drop in revenue in the first three months of 2026, which already equates to a loss for the state coffers of 101 million.

The reorganisation of the sector is urgent

Returning to the two PD parliamentarians, the request is for stricter rules for slot machines and video lotteries, compulsory identification and self-exclusion tools, and 'effective monitoring of risky behaviour, with particular attention to minors and frail persons'.

The PD also proposes the re-establishment of the Gaming Observatory and the refinancing of the Gap Fund to, the resolution reads, "immediately correct choices that have weakened prevention and treatment policies". Finally, Vaccari and Merola propose "stricter requirements for concessionaires and the supply chain" and the extension of anti-mafia regulations to "reduce the State's dependence on gaming revenues and build a more balanced, transparent and sustainable system".

Where does the reform point

Requests, those of the PD, already contained in the draft of the implementing decree now being examined by the Mef and Palazzo Chigi technicians. The reform of physical gaming aims above all to stem the spread of illegal gambling.

Among the novelties is the obligation for concessionaires and operators to comply with specific criteria and characteristics that public gaming outlets must have in order to be in compliance. Firstly, they must comply with the minimum levels of protection of health, public safety, and the public faith of players and minors. In order to do so, they must provide for the installation of closed-circuit video surveillance systems that respect privacy, as well as provide for and enforce the prohibition of access by minors to areas intended for gaming with cash winnings and to bingo halls or rooms where slots are installed and betting halls.

In addition, there will have to be continuous monitoring of gaming areas, as well as the physical separation of gaming zones, the placement of information material on conscious gaming, and strict compliance with the number of amusement machines with cash winnings that may be installed. This number is set at 4 Awp in establishments with non-prevalent gaming activities, while in those where gaming is prevalent, the number will be set by a decree of the Monopolies.

The obligation of certified operators

Compliance with these rules is only the first step that will allow concessionaires to obtain a gaming point certification issued by the Customs and Monopolies Agency to certify the suitability of the gaming offer in respect of the most vulnerable persons, gambling disorders and underage gaming.

In order to obtain the blue seal of approval from the financial administration, however, it will be necessary to provide training at least every two years for the staff employed at the gaming point, as well as to adopt a policy based on qualified studies on the tools, controls and actions to be taken at gaming points.

Then there is the activation of psychological support at least online dedicated to gambling addictions. It will also be necessary to provide for an internal audit for personal data protection compliance with the obligation to report periodically to the Agency and with the latter being able to carry out checks.

Distances

The other major issue to be agreed with the regions in order to rewrite the map of physical gaming is that of distances from so-called sensitive places. Thus the reform proposal puts two hypotheses on the table, dividing certified and non-certified gaming points. The latter may not be located at a distance of less than 200 metres from public and parochial schools of first and second degree, from public health facilities or facilities accredited to the National Health Service that house addiction treatment centres, hospitals or RSAs. For gaming points that offer bingo, slots and betting and that have obtained certification, the distance stops at 100 metres. The ban on installing gaming points in hospitals, clinics, schools and private clubs remains total.