Public Gaming Revenues 2025: State of Italy collects 2.3 billion in four months
From January to April 2025, Italy collected 2.36 billion from lotteries and gaming activities. According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the sector shows a stable 1.8% growth year-over-year.
Public gaming revenues 2025: official data from the MEF
The Italian public gaming sector continues to be a reliable contributor to national tax revenues. In the first , according to the , revenue from lotteries and other public gaming activities reached 2.36 billion. This marks an increase of 42 million compared to the same period in 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of 1.8%.
Overall fiscal revenues in the first four months of 2025
This performance is part of a broader positive fiscal trend. Total tax and contribution revenues between January and April 2025 increased by 15.182 billion, showing an overall rise of 5.8% compared to the previous year. Tax revenues alone grew by 7.924 billion (+4.6%), while contribution-based revenues, including social security, increased by 7.258 billion (+8.1%). Against this backdrop, the role of public gaming revenues in 2025 is increasingly strategic, offering both stability and predictability.
Why public gaming revenues are growing
Several factors contribute to this growth. The ongoing digital transformation of the gaming industry has enabled more efficient and traceable tax collection. Online gaming platforms, which now represent a significant portion of the market, ensure transparency and regulatory compliance. The current regulatory framework, though awaiting reform, has provided enough clarity for operators to plan investments and maintain legal compliance. Meanwhile, demand has remained steady, as regulated gaming continues to be a mainstream form of entertainment.
Cash vs. accrual: understanding the fiscal difference
It is worth noting that the MEF report includes both accounting-based (competence) and cash-based data. In terms of actual cash received by the Treasury, revenues from public gaming reached 2.306 billion, up from 2.281 billion in the same period of 2024. Thats an increase of 25 million, or +1.1%. This small difference compared to the 2.36 billion in the competence data is due to a timing discrepancy between recorded obligations and actual payments a normal occurrence in fiscal reporting.
Public gaming revenues 2025: a strategic asset for the Treasury
Public gaming revenues in 2025 play a significant role within the wider fiscal architecture. While representing only a portion of overall tax income, the sector offers distinctive advantages: it is digitally traceable, stable over time, and easy to forecast. These characteristics make it a vital source of funding that can support long-term public planning with a high degree of accuracy.
Moreover, this sector often contributes indirectly to public welfare programmes. In Italy, gaming revenues have historically been earmarked for cultural, educational, health, and sporting initiatives. This creates a social return that goes beyond fiscal value and reinforces the legitimacy of regulated gaming.
The future role of public gaming
Looking ahead, the public gaming sector may benefit from an overdue comprehensive reform. Policymakers have debated restructuring concessions, harmonising digital regulation, and improving transparency. An updated legislative framework could strengthen the legal gaming industrys fight against illegal operations while increasing public revenue.
In summary, the 2.3 billion collected in early 2025 confirms the sectors value. Public gaming revenues are not just numbers on a balance sheet – they represent a responsible, regulated, and strategic component of Italys economic structure. For institutions, operators, and citizens alike, this is a sector to watch and support.
This article was first published in Italian on 18 June 2025.
