Italys public gaming market hits 12 billion in 2024 revenue
Italys public gaming sector has emerged as a vital component of the national economy, recording nearly 12 billion in revenue in 2024. This impressive figure was announced by Roberto Alesse, Director of the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM), during an interview with .
We are dealing with a critical sector that demands a delicate balance between safeguarding public health and ensuring fiscal and economic stability, Alesse explained at the General Assembly of ADM, held on June 21-22.
According to Alesse, public gaming is not only a major contributor to state revenue, but also serves as a regulatory buffer that helps counteract illegal gambling. At the same time, it must operate under strict public policy frameworks that protect vulnerable players and ensure compliance with national and EU laws.
Simplification and digital innovation: ADMs dual mandate
Beyond public gaming, ADM has launched a broader transformation process focused on streamlining customs operations and embracing digital innovation, two pillars of Italys economic modernisation strategy.
Weve strengthened efforts to simplify and digitise customs procedures, facilitating access for Italian companies to international markets. These reforms reduce administrative burdens and speed up import-export operations, helping our production system become more competitive, Alesse stated.
This digital shift is not just operational – its structural, aimed at ensuring Italys long-term relevance in a dynamic and highly competitive global trade environment.
Fighting illegal gambling: 721 websites blocked in 2024
Another key challenge tackled by ADM is the fight against illegal online gambling, a growing threat that undermines consumer safety and disrupts regulated markets. In 2024 alone, the agency ordered the blocking of 721 unauthorised websites, up from 490 in 2023.
We have intensified monitoring activities, targeting platforms that operate without a license or use unauthorised software providers. These enforcement actions are essential to preserve the integrity of the regulated market and protect consumers.
This sharp rise in enforcement measures demonstrates ADMs role as a guardian of legality in the digital gaming space, using a mix of technology, regulatory authority, and investigative capacity to crack down on unlicensed operators.
Technology and talent: building ADMs future through modernisation
Looking ahead, Alesse emphasised that 2024 marks the beginning of a new era for ADM, focused on modernisation and strategic investment in both technology and human capital.
We are entering a new phase where innovation and internal expertise are the keys to navigating an increasingly global and complex economy. ADM remains a strategic pillar of Italys fiscal architecture – combining rigorous oversight, legal enforcement, and innovation-driven policies.
This approach positions ADM not only as a regulator, but as a forward-thinking institutional player, capable of supporting sustainable growth, protecting consumers, and contributing to Italys digital and economic transformation.
A balanced model of regulation, growth, and accountability
The public gaming sector in Italy is far more than a revenue stream – it is a complex ecosystem where fiscal policy, public health, digital innovation, and legal enforcement intersect. Under Roberto Alesses leadership, ADM is reimagining its role from a traditional watchdog to a strategic agent of changeensuring legality, promoting transparency, and enabling competitiveness.
With nearly 12 billion generated in 2024, strengthened enforcement, and a robust modernisation agenda underway, ADM is setting the benchmark for what a 21st-century regulatory agency should look like: transparent, adaptive, and deeply aligned with both national priorities and international standards.
This article was first published in Italian on 28 May 2025.
