Italy's retail gambling concessions for betting, bingo, amusement with prizes and video lottery terminals expire on December 31, 2026, but the decree that was supposed to reorganize the land-based market and define the terms of new tenders was set aside in August. AGSI, the association representing betting shop operators, is urging the Italian government to approve temporary bridging measures so gaming shops can continue operating until new tenders are held. The group says inaction could weaken legal operators and help illegal gambling grow in a segment that still represents about three-quarters of Italy's gambling market, worth more than €21 billion, according to Focus Gaming News.
Missed deadline leaves sector in limbo
The retail reform decree missed the government's August 29 deadline and was shelved, according to industry reports. With no new tender framework ready, another extension of the current concessions is widely expected, leaving operators in the same uncertain situation that has persisted for years. At the SBC Summit in Lisbon last month, IMGL co-founder Quirino Mancini said he did not expect any government to address the retail reorganization in the year before Italy's next general election, whichever party leads. He called gambling "a very sensitive issue" and said that sensitivity was why the reform had stalled. Mancini added that the network reorganization was first mentioned in the 2016 Stability Law and that the technical framework is largely settled, meaning the main barrier is political rather than regulatory, according to iGaming Business.
AGSI asks for emergency measures and new product options
AGSI president Pasquale Chiacchio told Italian trade publication Jamma that the sector cannot remain without a framework for years. "Gaming machines, horse racing and betting cannot wait three years," he said. The association is asking for temporary support measures for these verticals until new concession tenders are launched. As part of the transition, AGSI wants retail outlets to be permitted to sell additional products through betting agencies and other authorized locations. Chiacchio pointed to the 1998-1999 pilot program that brought sports betting into horse racing agencies as a previous example of how new products can support the physical network. Gambling News also reported that AGSI wants small and medium-sized firms to have the chance to bid alongside larger companies in any future tender.
Online stability contrasts with retail uncertainty
Italy's online gambling sector already operates under a new concession framework, with additional rules scheduled to take effect on November 13, 2026. Online licenses are valid for nine years, while retail concessions have been extended on an annual basis, which makes it hard for shopkeepers to invest or hire, according to Davide Diodato, CEO of Novomatic-owned HBG Online. Chiacchio said customers are gravitating to online play because it is open around the clock and offers more products and promotions, while shops remain subject to distance rules, opening-hour limits and permit requirements. He added that commercial investment is also moving online, leaving shops with rising costs and declining revenue. Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance reported that total gaming tax revenue fell 6.3% to €3.64 billion in the first half of 2026.
Consultation table and fairer tender access
AGSI wants a consultation forum that brings together government, public institutions and industry stakeholders so tender requirements can be drafted now. The association believes the future framework should let small and medium-sized operators compete with larger groups and should promote a more evenly spread national retail network with trained employees. It pointed to Campania's regional legislation as a potential model. Separately, the operators' association AGIC, whose members include Flutter, Lottomatica, Entain and Bet365, has said repeated extensions have left the retail market without long-term certainty for nearly a decade.
Enforcement should target black market
AGSI warned that waiting longer would hurt licensed operators and indirectly benefit illegal gambling. It argued that enforcement should focus on unlicensed companies rather than imposing more restrictions on authorized shops. A shrinking legal network, the association said, would give ground to illegal operators.
