Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) has tabled a potential tender for the nation’s scratch-card and instant-win games concession as part of the Budget Law 2027.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is in the final stages of preparing the budget, a priority for her government as Italy approaches a general election in 2027 and Fratelli d’Italia seeks to strengthen its position within the governing coalition.
The scratch-card proposal carries added significance as MEF looks for new sources of revenue following the failure to settle terms with Italy’s regions on the reorganisation of land-based gambling.
In August, Meloni instructed MEF to end negotiations with the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces over the structure and licensing terms governing gambling venues across Italy’s 20 regions.
Her intervention ended almost three years of talks forming part of the wider overhaul of Italian gambling, which was intended to improve the governance and tax efficiency of the sector.
With the retail settlement parked, MEF has turned its attention to one of Italian gambling’s most valuable assets: the exclusive concession for scratch cards and instant-win games.
The licence is currently held by Brightstar Lottery and will expire on 30 September 2028.
MEF is reportedly considering setting a starting price of approximately €1bn (£850m) for its successor tender, while retaining Italy’s single-concessionaire model.
The numbers explain the appeal. Scratch-card sales generate approximately €8bn each year, while the concessionaire receives a 6% premium worth close to €500m annually.
All eyes on Budget 2027
MEF will also have been encouraged by the recent Lotto tender, which delivered more than €2.2bn in upfront proceeds for the state. Scratch cards now present the Treasury with another high-value concession capable of attracting major bids.
However, the tender will not provide a quick fix for the 2027 budget. The time required to prepare, launch and award the licence means that the first two payments are unlikely to reach state accounts before 2028.
MEF is therefore examining more immediate measures. These include extending Italy’s existing retail concessions until the end of 2029, a temporary settlement expected to generate between €200m-€250m annually.
Further proposals include the introduction of a digital Lotto receipt, forecast to raise €15m, and an additional weekly Lotto and SuperEnalotto draw that could provide around €50m per year.
All options remain provisional ahead of the Budget Law’s expected presentation in October. Yet the scratch-card tender stands out as the clearest prize: a billion-euro concession attached to one of Italy’s most dependable gambling products.