Italy: Meloni’s Lieutenants Working Against Tight Deadlines to Deliver Betting Changes

(AsiaGameHub) –   Regulating gambling across Italy has become a top priority for the Meloni government this Spring.

Upcoming changes to Italy’s retail gambling laws, paired with renewed debate around repealing the 2018 Dignity Decree’s full ban on gambling advertising and sponsorships, have moved into the spotlight after a series of ministerial updates released this week.

Speaking to delegates at Italy’s First Anti-Fraud Conference, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Maurizio Leo confirmed he is ready to present the long-awaited Reorganisation Decree focused on land-based gambling to the Council of Ministers.

After a minor delay, Leo stated that the decree will be submitted within the “next ten days”, launching preliminary review of reforms that have already been agreed between the Meloni government and Italy’s 20 administrative regions.

The overhaul of Italy’s land-based gambling sector has been in development for two years, with Leo leading negotiations between the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces.

The decree prioritizes a full restructuring of Italy’s licensing framework for land-based gambling venues, alongside the rollout of uniform national standards for safer gambling controls and operational rules.

Leo emphasized that these retail gambling reforms extend beyond fiscal goals, framing the package as a combined measure to improve tax collection, uphold public order, and fight crime. 

He warned that illegal gambling does more than cut into government revenue: it acts as a pipeline for organised crime and money laundering to infiltrate the legitimate Italian economy.

A core element of the decree is the introduction of a regional revenue-sharing model, with ongoing talks to allocate a share of land-based gambling income to local governments. This change is designed to align the priorities of the national government and regions, and stabilize the new operating framework for land-based gambling licences.

Leo on the clock…

While the Meloni government remains on its overall timeline, pressure is mounting to finalize and enact the Reorganisation Decree into law.

Upcoming steps are time-critical, as the full legislative process must be completed by the August 29 tax delegation deadline, or no new tenders can be opened.

As explained by AgiProNews: “The measure must finish its full legislative process by the tax delegation deadline, set for August 29, otherwise it will be impossible to launch new tenders, which would lead to further extensions of existing concessions. 

“After approval by the executive branch, the bill will be sent to the Joint Conference and relevant parliamentary committees to gather the required consensus and input.”

Calcio Concerns

Since April 8, the Italian Senate has opened formal proceedings examining the state of Italian football, prompted by the Azzurri’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup – a third consecutive absence that has stepped up political and institutional scrutiny of the sport’s governance and funding model.

At the center of discussions is the proposed “right-to-bet” framework, which would see a portion of overall gambling and sports betting revenues redistributed to football and other sports bodies across Italy. 

The framework is framed as a mechanism to reinvest betting proceeds back into the sports ecosystem that generates them, including for stadium upgrades, youth development academies, and the expansion of women’s sports.

Sports Minister Andrea Abodi backed the principle in the Senate: “In other countries, betting acts as a driver of competition… Most stakeholders support the right to bet framework, which shares sports betting proceeds with the event organiser as compensation.”

He went on to criticize the current structure, adding: “Clubs organise events and invest in better match preparation… and then, despite being the main investors, they are locked out of betting proceeds.”

The minister also tied the proposal to protecting market integrity and fighting illegal betting, warning: “The main investor in an event is also the entity that certifies match data… it is clear that this is a key factor in the competition between legal and illegal betting markets.”

The proposal has earned backing from outgoing FIGC President Gabriele Gravina, who stepped down after Italy’s decisive defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina – a result that confirmed the Azzurri’s exclusion from the 2026 tournament. 

Gravina has long argued that Italian football needs new, sustainable funding channels to remain competitive with its European peer leagues.

At the same time, pressure is growing on the Meloni government to review the ongoing enforcement of the 2018 Dignity Decree, introduced by the former Lega–Five Star coalition, which implemented a full ban on gambling advertising and sponsorships. 

Sports and media stakeholders have long argued that this policy has cost Italian football and broadcasters up to €1bn in lost commercial revenue, weakening the sport’s financial foundation.

Abodi confirmed that any reform will go through further consultation, saying: “Regarding the percentage of revenue allocated, I am willing to discuss this with Parliament, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Customs and Monopolies Agency.”

He also stressed that gambler protection will remain central to any reforms: “One way to combat gambling harm is to improve bettor traceability, place limits on excessive betting, and thus provide support to state-licensed concessionaires.”

Just like the land-based reorganisation decree, the rollout of a right-to-bet model now faces a tight political and legislative timetable. Abodi must negotiate terms in the coming months with Serie A and the Olympic Committee of CONI to define how revenues will be allocated and governed.

Pressure is growing on Meloni’s key allies to meet their legislative deadlines, particularly on Abodi to secure repeal of the Dignity Decree. The fragile state of Italian football is a top sensitive political issue in 2026, with pressure amplified by media and public demand for a clear plan to restore the standing of Calcio.