Italy is moving to review landmark football finance legislation that could reshape how betting revenues flow back into the domestic game.
Bill No. 1902 proposes a 2% levy on football betting revenue generated from retail and online wagers placed on Italian football leagues governed by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
The bill has been assigned to the Senate’s Culture Committee for examination, alongside consultations involving the Finance, Budget, Justice and several other parliamentary committees.
Fratelli d’Italia has called on parties across the Italian political spectrum to support the bill and enact its measures by 1 January 2027, with oversight shared between the FIGC and the Ministry of Finance.
The proposal forms part of a broader reform agenda championed by Sports Minister Andrea Abodi following Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
To preserve overall tax neutrality, the bill includes a corresponding reduction in the PREU, Italy’s single state levy applied to fixed-odds football betting, offsetting the cost of the new contribution.
Newly elected FIGC President Giovanni Malago has outlined a parallel vision for reinvesting new football revenues, focusing on youth academies, women’s football and improved pathways for young Italian players.
The federation has also highlighted investment in grassroots facilities and regional training centres as essential to reversing declining participation rates and improving club and national team competitiveness.
Should the bill become law, the FIGC would determine the detailed distribution criteria, though spending priorities outlined in the legislation closely mirror those already advocated by calcio leadership.
Negotiations between the governing party and the federation will be needed to align the bill’s reform proposals with the strategic objectives already set out by football’s domestic leadership.
The FIGC would be required under the legislation to publish an annual audited report detailing how allocated funds have been used across the sport.
The Italian Government would also be required to submit a review to Parliament within two years of the law entering into force, assessing the funding mechanism’s effectiveness and whether measurable outcomes have been achieved.
The overhaul spans politics, media rights, regional governance and the future structure of Italian football, making it one of the most closely watched policy debates ahead of Italy’s next general election in 2027.
