Merola proposes higher gambling tax to fund fuel support measures

Virginio Merola, a deputy of Italy's PD-IDP, proposed funding the economic support measures in the fuel decree by raising taxes on gambling. He made the proposal during the parliamentary debate on 21 October on the decree-law containing urgent provisions for economic support and for containing the effects of the continuing rise in fuel costs, as well as on tax matters.

Merola spoke during examination of an amendment by fellow deputy Sottanelli. He said he shared the amendment's aims but took a different view on how the measure should be financed, and said he would have considered it more appropriate to raise the necessary resources through a change to the tax treatment of gambling.

The report was, which describes itself as the daily newspaper of legal gambling, on 22 October 2026. The source gives no further statement from Merola, Sottanelli or the government, and no outcome of the amendment's examination.