Italian bill proposes 2% football betting levy
Italian lawmakers are reviewing a bill that would redirect a 2% levy on domestic football betting to the FIGC, creating a proposed €230m annual funding stream for youth development, women’s football, grassroots facilities and gambling harm prevention.
Italy’s Senate is reviewing a football reform bill that would place a 2% levy on domestic football betting and redirect the proceeds to the Italian Football Federation.The measure is part of Bill 1902, submitted by Senator Paolo Marcheschi of Brothers of Italy and assigned to the Senate’s Culture Committee on July 2.Marcheschi said: “There is still a great deal of debt. If the football system were to collapse, we would all feel it – not just in tax revenue but in jobs.”The levy would apply to bets placed in Italy on football matches organised by the FIGC and its affiliated professional and amateur leagues.Licensed operators would be required to transfer the contribution to the FIGC quarterly, with the measure scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027 if approved.The bill estimates that the levy would generate around €230m per year for the football system.The proposal is intended to be fiscally neutral for the state, with the new contribution offset by a corresponding reduction in Italy’s existing PREU levy on fixed-odds football betting.At least 50% of the proceeds would be earmarked for youth development, including women’s youth programmes, facilities, regional training centres and incentives linked to Italian-trained players.A minimum of 30% would be allocated to gambling addiction prevention and broader social projects aimed at reducing disengagement from sport, particularly among young people.The remaining 20% would support women’s football and amateur-run football schools, with the FIGC responsible for defining allocation criteria.The bill would require the FIGC to submit certified annual accounts on the use of the funds to the Prime Minister’s office by March 31 each year.The government would also be required to report to Parliament within 24 months on the implementation of the law and how betting-derived resources had been used.The proposal revives a long-running debate in Italy over whether football should receive a direct share of betting revenues generated from its competitions.Italian football has faced pressure over club debt, stadium underinvestment, youth development and the national team’s recent failures to qualify for FIFA World Cups.The betting levy is presented as an alternative to reopening sponsorship and advertising access for gambling brands, which has been restricted since the Dignity Decree came into force in 2019.The gambling industry is likely to scrutinise the wording of the proposal closely, particularly whether the 2% contribution is calculated on stakes, turnover or revenue.A levy based on stakes would be materially different from one based on operator revenue, even if the bill’s tax offset is designed to prevent an additional net burden on licensees.The legislation also includes wider reforms covering club finances, governance and transfer-market controls.Provisions include caps on sports agents’ commissions, sanctions for clubs that breach those caps and a public register of fees paid to agents.The bill also proposes reducing the number of professional clubs across Serie A, Serie B and Serie C from 100 to 80, with the FIGC asked to set proportional reductions across the divisions.The package gives the FIGC a central role in redistributing betting-linked money while placing greater reporting and accountability obligations on the federation.The bill will now be examined in committee, with further opinions expected from other Senate bodies covering constitutional affairs, justice, budget, finance, public works, industry, health and regional affairs.