Italian petition seeks removal of proposed LAN gaming-room rules
Regulation2 min read
A petition in Italy calls for Article 25 of the 2027 budget bill, which would regulate LAN gaming rooms, to be removed. Its promoter, Donato Gallo, says the proposed charges are €1,200 a year per computer or console and €2,000 per simulator; the online petition has passed 3m signatures.
A petition launched by Donato Gallo seeks to remove Article 25, which would regulate LAN gaming rooms, from Italy's 2027 budget bill. The online campaign has attracted support and is linked to a similar petition submitted to the Chamber of Deputies.
The petition says the proposed fixed charge would be €1,200 a year for each computer or console and €2,000 for each simulator. It argues that from 1 January 2027 the costs would make operating computers or consoles in LAN rooms, esports centres and youth meeting spaces in Italy economically and legally impossible. The petition says the bill would bring computers, consoles and driving simulators under the 1931 public security law used for slot machines and place them under ADM oversight.
Gallo criticised the bill's average tax base of €15,000 per device or station and €25,000 for large simulators, with an 8% flat entertainment tax applied regardless of usage or venue opening hours.
Gallo disputed assumptions in the government's technical assessment of 200 active venues in 2027 and 2,300 venues with 46,000 active stations in 2028. He said there were currently fewer than 30 such venues, with fewer than 600 stations in total. Gallo alleged that the government had invented 46,000 stations to create a fictitious financial provision in the budget bill.
The petition asks that LAN rooms not be treated as betting shops and that computers, consoles and simulators without cash prizes be excluded from the 1931 public security law and state monopoly oversight. It calls for talks with operators on a dedicated Ateco classification and legislation for LAN rooms, esports and digital gathering centres.