Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) has announced plans to introduce a national “cyber shield” in the upcoming Budget Law.
According to Italian industry outlet AgiproNews, all businesses providing internet access will be required to install special software on devices ranging from PCs and kiosks to tablets. Developed jointly with the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) and state-owned tech hub b, the software will automatically block access to unauthorized gambling sites.
“The software will be made available for download to all operators and competent authorities, creating a national barrier against illegal gambling domains,” AgiproNews reported.
ADM will prepare the implementing rules, while Italy’s Guardia di Finanza and ADM itself will monitor compliance. Violators will face fines, with harsher penalties – including criminal liability – in cases where devices are found operating in “closed browsing mode” designed for direct access to illegal betting sites.
The measure follows a ruling by Italy’s Constitutional Court, which struck down the blanket ban on gaming devices in public venues (the so-called Balduzzi Decree), ruling it excessively restrictive of business freedom. However, ADM has stressed that so-called “totems” and closed terminals dedicated exclusively to gambling remain prohibited.
The MEF highlights the economic weight of the reform: Italy’s gambling industry generates around €21bn in gross revenue, with approximately €8bn flowing annually into the state budget.
The new protections are considered key to the updated licensing system, under which operators must pay €7m per license. So far, ADM has approved 46 applications.
The Italian market is undergoing a transition. The country remains Europe’s fourth-largest regulated gambling market, but the online segment alone is now valued at around €1bn annually, making digital protection critically important.
Under the new rules, operators will also be required to implement responsible gambling tools allowing players to control their time and spending, as well as provide risk warnings during live play.
Nonetheless, black market threats remain high. According to the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), illegal activity in Italy reached around €1bn in 2023. The strict “Dignity Decree,” which banned advertising and sponsorship, has further fueled demand for offshore “quick-deposit” and skin-betting sites.
Giorgia Meloni’s government has stated its intention to revise these bans and replace them with a more modern framework for marketing and sponsorship. A new mandate is expected by the end of the year, shaped with input from Serie A, Italian media, and the Ministry of Sports. Negotiations are ongoing between Sports Minister Andrea Abodi and Serie A president Ezio Simonelli.
Despite the urgency, broader structural reform has been delayed until August 2026. The delay stems from complex negotiations with regional authorities and the need to complete the Lotto Italia tender, awarded to a consortium of Brightstar, Allwyn, and Novomatic.
A key issue remains compensation for provinces and municipalities hosting gambling venues, alongside new licensing conditions for franchise networks and a possible revision of land-based gambling taxes. These matters will be central to talks between Rome and regional governments over the coming year.
The year 2025 is expected to be one of regulatory revisions and settlements for Italy’s gambling sector, while 2026 will likely focus on technical modernization of both online and offline sectors as the state finalizes a new strategy recognizing the industry’s economic contribution.
Italy’s policy shift reflects a delicate balancing act: strengthening state revenues, tightening oversight of a fast-growing digital market, settling disputes with regions and franchisees, and supporting Serie A and the media after years of advertising blackout under the Dignity Decree. The real test will be whether the “cyber shield” can withstand the pressure of the black market.
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