In 2024, the sector generated tax revenues of over €11.3 billion.
An industry that in 2024 will provide more than €11.3 billion in tax revenues, against a net player expenditure of €21 billion, equal to 13.7% of the total wagers collected (€154.5 billion). This figure could be even higher if illegal gambling were effectively countered — a social and ethical battle, as well as an economic one. The value of illegal gambling is estimated between €20 and €25 billion in wagers per year, corresponding to over €3 billion in net expenditure (after winnings) and therefore about €2 billion in lost tax revenues.
Businesses have mobilized through the first event organized by Agic, the Association for Licensed Gaming and Entertainment within Confindustria, chaired by Gennaro Schettino. The association brings together the five main licensed gaming concessionaires (Brighstar, Eurobet, Lottomatica, Sisal Italia, and Snaitech), and convened a conference gathering companies, institutions, and policymakers to discuss the measures to be adopted.
A study conducted by Luiss Business School, presented by Professor Alberto Franco Pozzolo, highlighted that the overall number of players and companies in the sector has increased (while large operators remain stable), and employment has grown, reaching over 38,000 people in 2022. About 20% of players also access illegal platforms, although most of them are not aware they are doing so. Those who declare that they knowingly gamble in unauthorized contexts are mainly engaged in slot machines, online casinos, poker, and video lotteries. Illegal gambling is widespread among young people and in smaller towns, especially in Southern Italy. The main reasons cited for using illegal platforms include greater ease of access, faster payments, a more engaging user experience, immediate cashouts, and the absence of taxation. Illegal gambling mainly attracts the most vulnerable players.
The policy actions identified in the study against illegal gambling include not only enforcement, but also offering more attractive legal alternatives; protecting vulnerable groups and strengthening prevention by building messages based on quality and trust; awareness campaigns and psychological support. It is essential to provide licensed operators with adequate and transparent communication tools. The reorganization of the physical gaming sector, as underlined by Giuliano Guinci, Public Affairs, Sustainability & Retail Operations Director at Eurobet Italia and member of the Agic board, represents a crucial opportunity to equip concessionaires with the necessary tools to remain competitive while simultaneously countering illegal channels.
Among the participants were Mario Lollobrigida, Director of Gaming at the Customs and Monopolies Agency, General Michele Carbone of the Guardia di Finanza, and Members of Parliament Ettore Rosato and Dario Damiani. Also in attendance were representatives from Confindustria, Assosistema, the Phonographic Association, the Publishers Association, and Confindustria Radio Televisioni.
Agic President
“We are not operating within a perfectly sealed perimeter. The external variable is the aggressiveness of the illegal market, driven by technological evolution, which is increasingly penetrating the legal market.”
This was underlined by Gennaro Schettino, president of AGIC, during the I-Com conference.
The regulated gambling industry plays a key role not only from an economic perspective but also for its social and regulatory implications, as it represents a significant component of the national economy: in 2024, net expenditure reached €21 billion, while tax revenues exceeded €11 billion.
Yesterday morning, at the Hotel Nazionale in Piazza Montecitorio, the event “Legal Market and Public Gaming: The Role of the Industry”
