Italy’s 2027 budget takes €700m from gambling, with leaked draft targeting slots and halls

Giorgia Meloni has confirmed that gambling will fund €700m of Italy's 2027 budget, though the specific measures are not yet published. A leaked draft puts the cost on land-based concessions and gaming machines, and venue operators warn that many halls could become unprofitable. Italy’s Council of Ministers approved the draft 2027 budget on 28 October. The package is worth roughly €26bn. At the press conference that followed, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said “another €700 million” would come from the gambling sector. Energy companies will be asked for a contribution of a similar size.