Extension of the fiscal delegation to 2026: A chance to overhaul land-based gaming regulations
The Finance Committee of the Italian Chamber of Deputies has approved an amendment extending the Government’s fiscal reform mandate by one year, pushing the deadline from 29 August 2025 to 29 August 2026. Simultaneously, the deadline for implementing and corrective legislative decrees – particularly those concerning the regulation of land-based gaming – has been extended to 31 December 2026.
The development was confirmed in Parliament by Senator , President of the Senate Finance and Treasury Committee. During the committee’s initial session at Palazzo Madama, Garavaglia stated that the extension was “necessary to account for the delay in the timeline relating to the delegation on physical betting network regulation”. His remarks reflect both institutional prudence and the urgency for systemic intervention in a sector still fragmented by inconsistent regulation.
A paradigm shift in stake and winnings limits
The amendment introduces significant changes to the guiding principles of the fiscal delegation. Specifically, the term “reduction” in reference to stake and winnings limits has been replaced with “revision”, signalling a more flexible approach by the Government. Moreover, the scope of regulatory sanctions has been broadened to cover all violations within the public gaming ecosystem, moving beyond the digital sphere alone.
These modifications point to a clear political will to make the regulatory framework more adaptable to market needs, without compromising the integrity of public oversight.
Timeline and process: What changes for the gaming sector?
With approval by the Chamber of Deputies on 16 July—by a majority of 159 votes—the legislation now proceeds to the Senate, where it is scheduled for debate in the chamber on 6 August. Senator Garavaglia, in setting the legislative calendar, also acknowledged the pivotal role played by the Conference of Regions, which requested greater involvement and an extended timeframe to assess how the reform will affect local jurisdictions.
The deadline for submitting amendments to the Finance Committee is set for 5 August at 8 p.m.
Risks and opportunities: an industry in waiting
Risks. Prolonged legal uncertainty continues to hinder strategic planning for land-based gaming operators. Betting shops, VLT halls, and sports betting corners are operating within a precarious regulatory framework, often under repeated extensions. Meanwhile, the digital gaming sector—already subject to partial reform—benefits from a more coherent structure, heightening the risk of competitive imbalance.
Opportunities. The extended timeline could offer a valuable opportunity to enact a comprehensive reform. A well-conceived overhaul of land-based gaming could facilitate the adoption of advanced technologies—from cashless systems to biometric verification—enhancing both traceability and player protection. The end goal must be to guarantee economic sustainability, social responsibility, and legal stability.
The unresolved knot
The question of concessions remains critical. Parliament is expected to establish new criteria and procedures for the allocation of gaming licences, ideally through transparent public tenders in line with EU law. In this regard, Massimo Garavaglia himself has called for “a clear regulatory framework that ensures fiscal continuity but also fair competition”.
The governance of public gaming urgently requires unified leadership. The current fragmentation—across the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM), the , regional governments, and other bodies—renders oversight ineffective and stalls any attempt at modernisation.
From delay to strategic action
If seen merely as a technical delay, the extension of the fiscal delegation risks perpetuating the regulatory inertia that has plagued Italy’s land-based gaming sector for years. However, if approached as a strategic window of opportunity, it could mark a turning point in the country’s approach to public gaming: more modern, more responsible, and more secure.
The challenge facing Parliament—and particularly the Committee led by Garavaglia—is not merely legislative, but also cultural and industrial. The real decision lies in whether to continue managing the public gaming sector through emergency measures or to finally build a system that is stable, equitable, and technologically future-proof.
This article was first published in Italian on 23 July 2025.
