Italian Lawmakers Push Proposal for 2% Football Betting Levy

Italy’s Senate has received a major proposal aimed at reforming the country’s football system, with a new bill placing a 2% levy on betting revenues at its core.

Senator Paolo Marcheschi of the Brothers of Italy party submitted Bill No. 1902, titled “Provisions reordering the football system”, which seeks to restore credibility to the national game after Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The governing party, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is backing the measure, giving it significant political weight.

The bill outlines reforms that go beyond betting, touching on governance, media rights and accountability. The 2% levy would apply to wagers placed on domestic football leagues overseen by the Italian Football Federation, with revenue expected to generate around €230 million annually.

Marcheschi described this as a “dedicated funding stream to address long-standing structural weaknesses across Italian football.”

Brothers of Italy has urged lawmakers to support the legislation, with the plan to enact the measures by January 2027 under the supervision of the FIGC and the Ministry of Finance.

At least 50% of projected revenues to head to youth programs

The bill sets out how the new levy will be divided, with the Italian Football Federation responsible for managing the funds under rules overseen by the Ministry of Finance.

Lawmakers have placed youth development at the centre of the plan, requiring that at least half of the annual receipts, estimated at €115 million, be directed into grassroots football. That money would be used to strengthen academies, expand federal training centres, improve public facilities, and provide incentives for clubs that nurture Italian‑trained players.

The proposal also gives weight to women’s football and amateur academies, reserving 20% of the proceeds, around €46 million, for their growth.

A further 30%, worth about €69 million, would be set for social programmes, including gambling harm prevention and initiatives to keep young people engaged in organized sport.

Italy is no stranger to levies

Italy’s betting sector already operates under heavy fiscal pressure, so the idea of another contribution is not new territory for the market.

For years, operators have paid the PREU levy, a single tax applied to the amount played on AWP and VLT machines under rules first set out in the 2001 Financial Law. The rates remain steep, 24% for AWP terminals and 8.6% for VLTs, and sit alongside strict oversight from the customs and monopolies agency, which enforces anti‑money‑laundering rules and advertising controls.

Knowing this, lawmakers argue the new football levy fits into an existing system rather than creating an unfamiliar burden. With clubs carrying a combined debt of around €5.5 billion, supporters of the bill say the contribution offers a fresh revenue stream that can be directed toward areas long starved of investment.

Gravina’s report highlighted how the funds could help youth development, improve stadiums and support programmes aimed at reducing gambling harm.

Source: SBC News

Italian Lawmakers Push Proposal for 2% Football Betting Levy

At least 50% of projected revenues to head to youth programs

Italy is no stranger to levies

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