Italy’s Chamber of Deputies hosted a policy roundtable in the Sala della Lupa (Palazzo Montecitorio) on 24 February 2026, titled “Le nuove regole del gioco. Tra riordino e nuovi bandi” (“The new rules of the game: between reorganisation and new tenders”). The event—promoted by LCD (Liberali Cristiano Democratici)—focused on the long-awaited reform of land-based gambling and the principles expected to shape the next round of concession tenders.
The meeting was introduced by Andrea de Bertoldi (LCD, Lega parliamentary group), who read a message from Chamber President Lorenzo Fontana highlighting prevention and stronger safeguards against problem gambling. The panel brought together lawmakers Maurizio Gasparri (Forza Italia), Giulio Centemero (Lega), Antonio D’Alessio (Azione), Stefano Vaccari (PD), Francesco Emilio Borrelli (AVS) and former Senate Finance Commission chair Riccardo Pedrizzi, alongside industry representatives Francesco Gatti (SAPAR), Geronimo Cardia (ACADI) and Marco Zega (Codere Italia).
From the operator side, the sharpest warning concerned market access under the rumored tender framework. ACADI president Geronimo Cardia said that, based on “leaked” elements of the retail reform decree, “six slot concessionaires out of ten” could be unable to win new concessions. Cardia also criticized a reform path that separates retail and online, arguing that it risks penalizing the terrestrial channel while regions remain focused on minimum-distance rules and access-hour limits.
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Economics and tender design were another flashpoint. Codere Italia’s Marco Zega said simulations suggest that with a nine-year slot concession, around six years could be needed just to recover the concession investment—leaving about three years as the truly profitable window. Meanwhile, sector outlets reported concerns that the next tender could rely on highest-bid allocation and raise the maximum market concentration threshold to 35–40% (from 25% in the prior framework), a change operators say could accelerate consolidation and increase oligopoly risk.
The debate lands against a tight legislative clock: Italy’s 2023 fiscal delegation underpinning the reform is referenced as expiring in August 2026, while some commentators note that retail effects may not fully materialize before 2028.
