Poker Writer
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has rejected proposals to reform the country’s land-based gambling sector, likely removing the overhaul from the government’s 2026 agenda.
The office of the prime minister rejected the “Decreto di Riordino,” which was then returned to the Ministry of Economy and Finance for further review.
Italian Gambling Reorganization Looks Dead Before 2027
Originally, Meloni had aimed to complete the retail sector restructuring before the government’s fiscal delegation powers expire on Aug. 29. But with less than three weeks before that date, the timeline is now unlikely to hold. Even a quick review from the Ministry of Economy and Finance would still require sign-offs from different parliamentary committees.
But the ministry will not be focused on the decree as Meloni has instructed it to focus on settling the budget for 2027 and fiscal reforms for the country as a whole.
Meloni’s decision ended nearly two years of negotiations between the federal state, autonomous regions and municipalities about the future governance of Italy’s retail gambling sector.
The delay has caused great frustration in Italian gaming as the unresolved issue creates roadblocks. The chairman and CEO of the Italian public gaming market operator, Lottomatica, said the delay prevents the industry from entering the next phase of consolidation:
Whether you have an agreement or not, basically nothing changes. The outcome is exactly the same in the next two to three years.
Tighter Gambling Laws Bill in Italy
In a related topic, another new reform bill was submitted to the Chamber of Deputies in late July. The bill sought to make Italy’s ban on gambling and betting advertising more explicit and stricter. It is a parliamentary bill still listed as “to be assigned,” meaning it has not yet begun the parliamentary process.
The proposal is not a new ban, as that is already regulated under Article 9 of the 2018 Dignity Decree, which introduced broad restrictions on gambling advertising and sponsorships.
These new provisions merely provide an interpretation clarifying which forms of communication are subject to the ban.
