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Italy¡¯s regulated gaming sector faces urgent need for reform amid alarming data
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Italy¡¯s legal gaming sector is at a critical crossroads, caught between the need for structural reform and the ongoing absence of concrete political action. This was the central message emerging from the press conference hosted by on 17 July in Rome. One year after the previous event, little has changed, and the land-based gaming segment – particularly AWP and VLT machines – continues to experience a sharp decline.
Zega (Codere Italia): ¡°We are still at square one¡±
, Managing Director of , opened the event by highlighting the regulatory impasse: ¡°One year on, we are once again here to examine the data and assess the state of the industry. Over the past year, nothing has changed with regard to the reorganisation of the land-based sector. There¡¯s plenty of talk, hypothetical proposals, and commentary, but nothing tangible. We are exactly where we started¡±.
Zega stressed the fall in both revenue and tax contributions from the ADI channel, despite ongoing discussions between regional governments and the State. ¡°Meanwhile, overall gaming turnover is on the rise, with the online sector booming, yet the Treasury is suffering. One has to wonder whether this delay is intentional, to avoid taking responsibility for setting a definitive and forward-looking framework. Still, we prefer to believe this delay will eventually lead to the best possible reform¡±.
Iaccarino (As.Tro Research Centre): ¡°Data must underpin decision-making¡±
Armando Iaccarino, Director of the As.Tro Research Centre, emphasised the importance of statistical analysis: ¡°Every period of change requires clarity and expertise. – though open to interpretation – define the essential parameters for any decision-making process. When placed in historical context, they become indispensable to any kind of narrative¡±.
With the support of the , the study presented aims to offer an objective tool for understanding the current state of the industry and its potential trajectories.
Key findings: Declining revenue, tax intake and margins
In 2024, total turnover from AWP and VLT machines amounted to €32.6 billion, marking a 30% decline compared to 2019. State tax revenue dropped by 22%, while industry margins shrank by 17%, standing at €2.95 billion. Compared to 2023, there was a further decline of 3.3% in turnover and 4.6% in tax revenue.
The number of AWP machines fell from 263,000 to 246,663 (-6.3%), and the number of venues hosting them dropped by 14.4%, from 58,472 to 50,067. While VLT halls saw an 11% decline in number, the quantity of machines grew slightly in 2024 (+1.1% vs. 2023), indicating sector rationalisation and larger venues on average (12.6 VLTs per location, up from 10.7 in 2015).
Most concerning is the decline among ¡°generalist venues¡± (bars, tobacconists, newsagents, restaurants): compared to 2019, over 15,000 AWP machines have disappeared from this channel, and more than 9,000 venues have closed – bars being the most affected, with a 21% drop.
Online gaming offsets land-based losses
Despite the downturn, the AWP-VLT segment still generated €5.2 billion in tax revenue in 2024, accounting for 45.6% of total legal gaming contributions, down from 59.4% in 2019. The total loss to the public purse since pre-pandemic times is estimated at €1.4 billion.
In contrast, the online sector experienced a 95% growth in turnover between 2019 and 2024, while land-based machine turnover fell by 30%. Today, machines account for just 21% of total legal gaming turnover, a sharp drop from their dominant share prior to 2016.
Piatti (Prisma Spa): ¡°Clear regulation is essential¡±
Marco Piatti, industry analyst and CEO of Prisma Spa, described the sector as undergoing a period of ¡°profound transformation¡±, driven by complex forces. ¡°These include the fragmented nature of the market, regulatory challenges, and changing consumer habits. A clear and stable regulatory framework – achieved through effective collaboration between regulators and industry – is vital for ensuring economic and social sustainability¡±.
Parlati (ACMI): ¡°The industry is ready to do its part¡±
Gennaro Parlati, President of ACMI/Confindustria SIT, reaffirmed the sector¡¯s readiness: ¡°We need consistent and transparent rules, trained operators, and an offering that is both safe and innovative. The upcoming reform must focus on protecting consumers, safeguarding tax contributions, and ensuring the sustainability of businesses. The industry has been prepared for this step for some time¡±.
New awareness campaign: ¡°Square centimetres of legality¡±
, Managing Partner of CuiProdest and creator of the campaign presented by As.Tro, spoke at the event. He stated: ¡°The campaign ¡®2,500 square centimetres of legality¡¯ aims to reaffirm a simple but often overlooked truth: the space occupied by a legal slot machine or any authorised gaming device is a space governed by law, granted through State concession and monitored by authorities. If left vacant, in the presence of ongoing demand, it would inevitably be filled by illegal offerings¡±.
As.Tro officially launched its first institutional campaign, aimed at policy-makers, stakeholders, and the public, titled ¡°2,500 square centimetres of legality¡±, developed in partnership with CuiProdest. The campaign includes a dedicated website ¨C ¨C and a series of promotional visuals designed to reinforce the sector¡¯s core principles: responsibility, legality, and player protection.
Lollobrigida (ADM): ¡°Legislative action must be accelerated¡±
In his concluding remarks, Mario Lollobrigida, Director of Gaming at ADM, confirmed that the Agency has finalised the draft legislative decree for land-based gaming reorganisation, in line with the directives set out by the enabling law. ¡°We believe solid proposals have been made in terms of network sizing, security and public health protection. However, the decree must be adopted quickly, especially in the most vulnerable segments. In the machines sector, early 2024 has already shown declining turnover, partly due to outdated equipment. Transitioning to the new AWPR devices will only be possible after new concessions are issued, which in turn depends on completing the legislative process¡±.
Full report to be unveiled in October
The fifth edition of the study entitled ¡°Study Path on the Gaming Sector in Italy¡±, conducted by the CGIA of Mestre¡¯s Research Office, will be presented in its entirety – covering both retail and online sectors – on 16 October at Palazzo Wedekind in Rome.
This article was first published in Italian on 21 July 2025.
