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The Italian Football Federation has urged the government to introduce a levy on football-related gambling revenue and reconsider Italy’s betting advertising restrictions. The proposals were presented in a report published this week and prepared by outgoing FIGC President Gabriele Gravina.
The 11-page report was prepared for the VII Committee on Culture, Science, and Education of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies ahead of a parliamentary hearing that was later canceled following Gravina’s resignation announcement. Gravina said he chose to publish the document anyway while remaining in a caretaker role until the FIGC’s extraordinary elective assembly in June.
The report comes after Italy failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for a third straight tournament and outlines financial, structural, and regulatory issues affecting Italian football.
Betting revenue seen as funding source
At the center of the FIGC’s recommendations is a proposal to introduce a levy on football betting turnover or winnings, with proceeds earmarked for the sport.
“This requires only the transposition into Italian law — as has already occurred in many European countries — of a principle enshrined in a specific European directive,” Gravina wrote.
According to the report, funds raised through the levy would be ring-fenced for stadium upgrades, youth development, and programs addressing problem gambling. The federation said similar temporary measures had been introduced previously by former ministers Vincenzo Spadafora and Roberto Gualtieri but were not renewed.
Gravina presented the measure as part of a wider package aimed at easing financial pressure across the sport. Italian professional clubs currently post annual losses of more than €730 million, while total debt stands at about €5.5 billion.
The report also pointed to infrastructure gaps, noting that Italy is not among the top 10 European countries for stadiums built or modernized between 2007 and 2024.
Market reform adds new context
The proposal arrives as Italy’s gambling market undergoes regulatory change. In November 2025, the country reduced its online gambling market from more than 400 operating domains to 52 licenses, each tied to a single online identity. The changes are expected to concentrate market share among fewer operators.
Italy remains one of Europe’s largest online gambling markets by turnover and tax revenue. License fees generated about €364 million ($424 million) for the state as of November last year.
FIGC calls for review of ad ban
The FIGC also called for changes to Italy’s 2018 ban on betting advertising and sponsorships, introduced under the Decreto Dignità.
“The measure has proven largely ineffective,” the report said, citing findings from Italy’s 2022 Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry into illegal gambling. According to the FIGC, illegal gambling activity has continued to rise, including among minors, despite the restrictions.
The federation said the ban has also reduced sponsorship revenue for clubs and left Italian football at a disadvantage relative to other European leagues.
A recent UEFA report cited in the FIGC document showed that gambling and betting companies account for 24% of shirt sponsors in the 2025-26 season across Europe. The report said the issue has commercial implications for Italian clubs already operating under financial constraints.
The sponsorship debate is also unfolding elsewhere in Europe. Premier League clubs have agreed to end front-of-shirt gambling sponsorships from the 2026-27 season, a move expected to create an £80 million revenue gap, though sleeve sponsorships will still be permitted.