Italian government approves 2027 budget bill as gaming tax measures remain unconfirmed

Italy's Council of Ministers approved the 2027 budget bill and the multi-year budget for the 2027-2029 period at a meeting on the afternoon of 28 October, according to the report. The text of the measure is still being finalised, and only unconfirmed reports are circulating about some of the provisions, including on public gambling.

According to the report, the government is aiming to raise more than €900m a year from the gambling sector over the 2027-2029 period. The main reported measures would be a one percentage point increase in the Prelievo Erariale Unico (PREU) on AWP and VLT machines, and a three-year extension of concessions for bingo, betting, amusement machines and Gratta e Vinci scratchcards at materially higher economic terms.

The report said these measures had already appeared in earlier drafts of the budget circulated in previous days. Lower percentages for the PREU increase, between 0.5% and 0.7%, were also assessed, and concerns were raised about the economic consequences for the sector.

Other reported proposals include possible changes to the taxation of online gambling and winnings, and a decision on the future of the Gratta e Vinci concession, which currently expires in September 2028. A paid extension is under study for that concession, with a fee based on the reserve price of the future tender. Further proposals concern the regularisation of LAN rooms dedicated to eSports and the recovery of the remaining debt of the machines sector relating to the extraordinary levy introduced in 2015.

The report said the picture remains provisional. Revenue forecasts cited in recent weeks ranged between about €700m and €800m a year, above the initial forecasts in the budget planning document. The official text will be needed to verify which measures have actually been included in the budget and how they would be applied.