Italy intensified the debate over the future of gambling regulation in May 2026 after the Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (AGCOM) increased oversight of digital betting advertising while the Ministry of Economy and Finance confirmed a 7.3% year-on-year decline in gaming tax revenue during the first quarter of the year.
The scenario is pushing Rome toward a strategy where protecting the legal market and modernizing regulations are becoming essential to restoring fiscal growth and strengthening the licensed gaming ecosystem.
The discussion gained momentum during the event “Riordino gioco fisico: che mercato sarà? Online tra politica e sviluppi socio-economici,” held at the University of Salerno, where Davide Gallino, head of AGCOM’s Discipline, Supervision and Sanctions Office, warned about the growth of indirect gambling advertising through social media, influencers, and digital tipsters. AGCOM, chaired in 2026 by Giacomo Lasorella, supervises compliance with the 2018 Decreto Dignità, the law that heavily restricted gambling advertising and sponsorships across Italy.
Giacomo Lasorella
Gallino clarified that the operational gambling regulator remains the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM), led by Roberto Alesse, while the Gaming Directorate is headed by Mario Lollobrigida. ADM oversees licenses, concessions, enforcement, online gambling, and land-based operations under the framework reorganized through Legislative Decree No. 41 of 2024, a central pillar of Italy’s tax reform introduced under Law 111 of 2023.
Roberto Alesse
The regulatory pressure coincides with sensitive fiscal data for the Italian government. The Ministry of Economy and Finance, led by Giancarlo Giorgetti, reported that gaming generated €1.919 billion in tax revenue during Q1 2026, representing a decline of €151 million compared with the same period in 2025. Indirect taxes linked to lotteries and prize-based games reached €1.587 billion.
The debate is now centered on how to protect licensed operators while combating offshore platforms and unauthorized digital advertising. Italian analysts believe clearer regulation, stronger oversight of online promotion and support for the legal gaming market could stabilize tax revenues, improve financial traceability, and create a more sustainable and competitive gaming industry across Italy.
