Pope Leo XIV wades into Italian gambling debate
The pontiff has warned mayors about the increase in gambling in Italy.
Italy.- Pope Leo XIV has openly criticised the gambling industry in a rare public intervention. He warned of the rise in gaming and the impact on communities during an annual address to Italian mayors at the National Association of Italian Local Authorities.
The pontiff spoke about various social issues he believes to be eroding the fabric of society, with gambling being singled out for most attention.
“Unfortunately, our cities know forms of marginality, violence and loneliness that require to be faced. I would like to point out in particular the plague of gambling that ruins so many families,” he declared. “Statistics show a sharp increase in Italy in recent years.”
The figures referenced are from a recent Caritas Italia report, which highlighted financial and psychological impacts. Caritas reported that gross gaming revenue (GGR) had soared by 359 per cent to €157bn in 2024, compared with €35bn in 2006.
Tax revenues rose by a more modest 83 per cent, from €6 to €11bn. Losses borne by players in 2024 amounted to €20bn, and 10 regions recorded above-average losses of €493 per person, five of them in the economically vulnerable South, including Sicily and Sardinia.
Caritas had concluded that “gambling costs those who have less: not only because they lose more euros, but because those euros are worth more in the family budget.”
Italy today ranks as Europe’s second-largest gambling market, behind only the United Kingdom. However, it also has strict regulatory measures in place.
The ADM, which regulates the sector, issued new Italian online gambling licences in November 2025. There are now 46 operators with 52 licences on the market. Operators must comply with new regulatory requirements, including player registration through Italy’s SPID digital ID or electronic ID card.
Mandatory self-exclusion tools and spending limits remain in place, and Italy also has a strict ban on gambling advertising.
In 2026, the government intends to advance with long-delayed plans to reform the land-based gambling sector. The aim is to create a harmonised federal framework for casinos, bingo halls gaming arcades, and sports betting franchises. The government has expressed an intention to review the Dignity Decree of 2018, which imposed a ban on gambling advertising and sponsorship in Italy.
