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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office has rejected the latest proposals to introduce reforms for the country’s land-based gambling sector, removing the overhaul of the sector from 2026’s government agenda.
The government has turned down the Decreto di Riordino del Gioco Fisico, returning it to the Ministry of Economy and Finance for another round of review. Initially, it was estimated that the restructuring of the land-based sector would be completed before August 29, 2026, aligning with the date when the current government’s fiscal delegation powers were set to expire.
The draft decree was proposed after 2 years of negotiations and development with the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces and has reportedly been rejected after disagreements between the Ministry and the Conference about the minimum distance rules for gambling locations.
PM Meloni’s Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council, Alfredo Mantovano, shared that any decree approved by the government would not change the existing minimum distance rules that are used by regional authorities.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Economy and Finance had suggested introducing a single national system that would cover operating hours, minimum distances, and certifications. Moreover, the further delay in launching a reformed land-based gambling framework has added fiscal consequences for Italy, as the country was aiming to generate between $2.07 billion and $2.3 billion in upfront licensing revenue.
