Italy’s budget bill raises non-prize amusement game stakes to €2

Italy's 2027 budget bill would raise the maximum stake on certain amusement machines that do not pay cash prizes from €1 to €2, according to the bill's Article 24. The provision covers machines under Article 110, paragraph 7, letter a) of the consolidated public security law (TULPS), which the bill would also amend to refer to mechanical as well as electromechanical devices. The change applies specifically to letter a) and not to all machines without cash prizes covered by paragraph 7.

A second part of Article 24 would allow owners to keep certain older machines in operation. It covers machines under Article 110, paragraph 7, letters a) and c) of the TULPS installed before 1 January 2003, and mechanical and electromechanical machines cited in Article 28-ter, paragraph 4, of legislative decree 174/2024 with the characteristics of machines under letters c-bis) and c-ter) of paragraph 7. The machines must still be installed on 31 December 2026. Owners would have to file a substitute declaration with the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) within 60 days of the law taking effect, attesting the type and location of the machine, its conformity and that of its games with technical rules in force, and the presence of systems ensuring it cannot be modified, as set out in Article 38, paragraph 3, of law 388/2000.

For each machine kept in operation, owners would pay ADM a one-off €1,000 contribution, under arrangements set by the agency and by the mandatory deadline of 30 April 2027. The charge applies per machine, not per business or owning company; an operator with 10 qualifying machines would pay €10,000 in total. It is a one-off payment linked to continued use, not an annual fee.

Under the bill's third paragraph, failure to file the declaration or pay the contribution would make the temporary clearance already issued for the machine ineffective and lead to its confiscation. If a machine is found at a location other than the one declared, an administrative fine of between €100 and €500 would apply. If its characteristics differ from those declared, the sanctions under Article 110, paragraph 9, letter c) of the TULPS would apply.

The bill does not create a general authorisation for all paragraph 7 machines; it sets rules for continued operation of specific categories. The source says it remains to be verified whether parliamentary examination of the 2027 budget bill will change the amount of the one-off contribution, the categories covered or the conditions for keeping machines in operation.