Italian gambling tax revenue declines
A decline in Italian gaming machine revenue lowered the tax take in January.
Italy.- The latest data from the Ministry of Economy and Finance shows that tax revenue from gambling in Italy declined in the first two months of 2026.
While overall tax revenue was steady at €91.8bn, receipts from the gambling sector were down 12.4 per cent year-on-year at €1.31bn. Indirect taxes tied to gambling fell by 17.1 per cent to €1.049bn
The decline is primarily attributable to lower tax revenue from gaming machines in January. Revenue from the vertical fell by 15.2 per cent to €800m in the first month of the year. A year-on-year rise in February, from €249m in 2025 to €391m wasn’t enough to offset the lower figure in January.
According to the specialist Italian media outlet Jamma, the figures continue a trend seen in recent years, with gambling machine revenue falling from €978m in early 2024, to €943m in 2025 and €800m in the first months of 2026. Annual figures have declined too, from €5.423bn in 2024 to €5.244bn in 2025.
Other segments have seen milder fluctuations, with some modest gains in February. Analysts suggest the trend may reflect evolving consumer habits, regulatory changes, or wider market dynamics.
New Italian online gambling licences finally came into effect late last year, while drawn-out Italian land-based gambling reforms are expected to be proposed imminently following years of debate.
