Italy is preparing to overhaul its defences against illegal gambling as the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) sets out plans for a national “cybersecurity shield” in the forthcoming Budget Law.

The measure, revealed by industry outlet Agipronews, will require any business offering public internet access to install anti-illegality software on devices ranging from PCs and kiosks to tablets. Developed jointly by ADM — Italy’s Customs & Monopolies Agency — and state-owned tech hub SOGEI, the software will automatically block connections to unauthorised gambling domains.

“The software will be made available for download to all operators and relevant authorities, creating a national safeguard against illegal gaming domains,” Agipronews has reported.

ADM to lead mutli-stakeholder project 

ADM will draft the implementing regulations, while inspections by both the Guardia di Finanza and ADM will ensure compliance. Fines will be levied against non-compliant operators, with heavier penalties — and potential criminal charges — if devices are found in “closed browsing” mode designed to funnel users directly to illegal betting sites.

The move follows a ruling by Italy’s Constitutional Court which struck down the Balduzzi Decree’s blanket ban on gaming devices in public venues, arguing the measure was disproportionate and unduly restrictive to business freedoms. Even so, ADM has stressed that so-called “totems” and closed-circuit devices dedicated exclusively to gambling remain prohibited.

MEF: New Regime needs better protection 

The MEF is keen to stress the economic weight behind the reform. Italy’s gambling industry generates an estimated €21bn in gross income, delivering around €8bn annually to the state through duties and taxes.

New online protections are considered critical to securing the government’s updated licensing regime, under which operators must pay €7m per licence. So far, ADM has approved 46 applications.

The reforms reflect a market in transition. While Italy remains Europe’s fourth-largest regulated gambling market, MEF officials highlight that online gambling alone is now worth roughly €1bn per year, with rapid growth accelerating the need for robust digital protections.

noted that the new online regime binds operators to a compliance charter, mandating responsible gambling tools such as in-play warnings on high-risk products.

Italy is no stranger to Black Market encroachment 

Yet exposure to the black market remains high. In 2023, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) estimated that Italy faced around €1bn in illegal activity, as offshore operators exploited the country’s strict Dignity Decree, which banned advertising and sponsorship. The restrictions have fuelled demand for “quick-deposit” skin sites, many of them hosted abroad.

The Meloni government has signalled it wants to repeal blanket bans, instead moving towards a modernised framework for marketing and sponsorship. A new mandate is expected to reach parliament later this year, shaped by recommendations from Serie A, Italian media and the Ministry of Sports. Negotiations are ongoing between Sports Minister Andrea Abodi and Serie A president Ezio Simonelli.

Land-based reorganisation moved to 2026

Despite the urgency, wider structural reform has slipped. The second phase of Italy’s gambling reorganisation has been pushed back to August 2026, a delay blamed on complex negotiations with regional authorities and ADM’s need to complete the Lotto Italia tender, awarded to a consortium of Brightstar, Allwyn and Novomatic

Key settlements are required on compensation terms for provinces and municipalities that host gaming outlets, alongside new licensing conditions for franchise networks and an expected revision of land-based gambling taxes. The fiscal and regulatory changes are likely to dominate talks between Rome and regional governments over the coming year.

2026: Year of technical upgrades for Italian gambling 

2025 is recognised as year of regulatory revisions and settlments for Italian gambling. Moving into 2026, it will likely be a year of technical adjustments and settlements for both online and land-based incumbents, as the government moves in a new direction that recognises and values the economic contribution of the gambling sector.

Italy’s policy shift reflects a balancing act: securing billions in state revenues, tightening oversight of a fast-growing digital market, and settling disputes with provinces and franchise operators, while giving Serie A and national media a lifeline after years under the Dignity Decree’s advertising blackout. Whether the “cyber shield” can hold back the black market tide will be the first real test of the MEF’s new regime.