Italy’s Supreme Court ruled that the tax on illegal gambling remains due independently of the constitutional ruling on the Balduzzi provision. It said the tax does not apply to computers with general internet access and is limited to devices dedicated to illegal gambling.
The ruling defines which devices may fall within the illegal-gambling tax, affecting operators and businesses subject to enforcement.
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Carabinieri and Italy’s ADM found six tablets linked to unauthorised online gambling platforms in a separate room at a bar in Isola di Capo Rizzuto. The authorities imposed a €60,000 administrative fine and seized the tablets and related hardware; the checks also found missing gambling-risk information and a prohibited-games notice.
Carabinieri from the Isola di Capo Rizzuto command, joined by staff of the Customs and Monopolies Agency (A.D.M.) for Calabria, ran a series of targeted inspections at public businesses, clubs and gaming rooms in the area. Following the irregularities found, an administrative penalty of 60.000,00 euro in total was imposed. According to the headline, the fine of "60mila euro" fell on the owner of a bar.
Italy’s 2027 Budget Bill would raise gaming-machine taxes, increase slot stakes and prizes, and extend land-based concessions through 2029, according to the bill as reported. From 1 January 2027, the PREU rates would rise to 25% for AWP machines and 9.6% for video lottery terminals; machines returning at least 70% of stakes would qualify for a 20% levy. The bill would also establish licensing for esports and LAN venues offering skill-based competitions without cash prizes.
The Italian government submitted amendment 1.24 to the Chamber of Deputies, proposing tax changes for licensed gambling operators. It would classify certain concessionaire investments as representation expenses and make specified sponsorship and information-service costs non-deductible for income taxes and IRAP; the measure is a proposal, not an enacted rule.
Italy’s decree-law 153, in force from 27 August 2026, classifies concessionaires’ responsible-gambling communications spending as representation expenses for tax purposes. The technical report puts affected investment at about €7m annually and €3m in 2026, but says the resulting tax revenue cannot yet be estimated; the decree also restricts deductions for certain gaming-related sponsorships and information services.
The EU Court of Justice ruled on 16 July that hosting video services fall within the relevant directive, including when videos carry gambling advertising. It said hosting providers cannot rely on limited liability where a video platform shares advertising revenue under a commercial partnership and examines or controls the channel or its content; the ruling was added to a procedure list sent to Italy’s Senate.
The EU Court of Justice ruled on 16 July that video hosting services are covered by the relevant EU directive even when videos contain advertising for gambling involving a monetary stake. The court said limited liability protections for hosting providers do not apply to a video platform operator with a commercial partnership that shares advertising revenue and involves examination and control of the channel, its main themes, metadata or most-viewed videos.