Giorgetti rejects claim Italy is expanding gambling to raise tax revenue
Regulation1 min read
Italy’s finance minister Giancarlo Giorgetti rejected criticism that the government is encouraging gambling growth to increase tax revenue during a hearing on the 2027 budget. Senator Beatrice Lorenzin said she would prepare amendments, while Giorgetti argued that higher taxation and regulatory measures were intended to contain the sector’s growth.
During a hearing on the 2027 budget, Italy’s finance minister Giancarlo Giorgetti rejected criticism that the government had encouraged gambling expansion to increase tax revenue.
Senator Beatrice Lorenzin of the Democratic Party said seeking higher revenue through gambling expansion risked conflicting with policies to prevent problem gambling and addiction. She cited the social and health consequences of gambling and the need to protect vulnerable people.
Giorgetti said higher taxes and other regulatory measures were intended to contain the sector’s growth. He said the government had recently made online sports gambling advertising expenses entirely non-deductible for tax purposes, a measure he described as potentially unwelcome to operators.
Lorenzin said she would prepare amendments to address her concerns during parliamentary scrutiny of the budget.