Two amendments proposed as part of the Maneuvers – signed by Senators Rastrelli, Gelmetti and Lotito – propose decisive changes in the amusement machine sector, introducing stricter regulations regarding safety, a technological update path and, most importantly, an increase in the minimum payout to 70%. A move that not only represents a structural improvement of the market, but is also a strategic fiscal lever to restore balance between physical games and online games, thereby generating greater revenues for the State in the medium term.
The first goal of this amendment is to make machine parking safer, more controlled, and in accordance with fair play standards. Starting January 1, 2026, all devices must comply with new technical requirements, including updated certification, win checks, and indication of limitations and usage times directly on the device. A measure that strengthens player protection and contributes to reducing irregularities, consolidating more effective state control in the supply chain. Considerable attention is also paid to addiction prevention: clear messaging on gaming time, transparency on machine functioning, and more balanced payouts offer useful tools to combat compulsive behavior and encourage a more conscious experience.
Increasing the minimum payout to 70% is at the heart of the proposal. A move designed to correct the imbalance caused by the growth of online gaming, which currently offers very high payouts and much lower taxes than physical games. This has led to the migration of games to platforms that make a smaller contribution to the state budget, despite increasing volumes. Making land-based gaming more competitive means fighting back against these dynamics, bringing players back to a more regulated and legally supervised environment, where controls are stronger and protections are real. A strategy that addresses the need for legality and protection of the most vulnerable groups, avoiding spread to less supervised digital circuits.
Despite estimating initial costs for adaptation, the amendments indicate that these costs will be compensated and overcome thanks to the positive impact of such measures in the medium term. Higher payments make the legal game more attractive, counteracting the expansion of low-tax offers and increasing collections, resulting in increased tax revenues from 2028. The brick-and-mortar sector, thanks to clearer and modern regulations, can again contribute in a stable and predictable way to public finances.
These interventions also have strategic value: they represent steps that bridge the wait for organic reforms in the sector, which have been announced for years but never completed by successive governments. The amendments prepare the ground for comprehensive reforms that bring order to a fragmented sector, ensuring a balance between health protection, legality, business sustainability and revenue for the State. These are necessary steps to accompany the sector towards a more coherent and modern reorganization, avoiding dangerous regulatory gaps and maintaining a strong state presence in an area that requires constant attention and special responsibility.
In this context, the amendment is a clear signal of political, administrative and social concern.
These policies offer initial adjustments to address real inequalities, protect consumers and strengthen the rule of law, while preparing the ground for broader and needed reforms. A modernization that looks to the future and, if implemented, will be able to restore stability and balance to fundamental sectors of the Italian economy and public coffers.
