Italian Customs and Monopoly Agency Reports Stable Revenue and Increased Efforts Against Counterfeiting and Illegal Gambling
The Italian Customs and Monopoly Agency (Agenzia Dogane e Monopoli) has announced that it has exceeded 80 billion euros in revenue. This figure includes 32.4 billion euros from excise duties on energy and alcohol products, 15 billion euros from tobacco (including VAT), over 21 billion euros from customs duties (with 84% represented by VAT on imports), and 11.6 billion euros from public gaming. Overall, revenues have remained stable compared to 2023.
This information was revealed by the Director of the Agency, Roberto Alesse, in an interview with Corriere della Sera.
Combating Counterfeiting
Alesse stated that in 2024, the Agency seized over two million counterfeit items with a value exceeding 7 million euros. “Defending ‘Made in Italy’ is a priority for us,” he emphasized.
Online Gaming Reform and Revenue
The reform of online gaming was completed last year, focusing on security, public order, and combating pathological gambling. The concessions have been put out to tender, with an expected initial revenue of 350 million euros plus an annual fee of 3%. Alesse considers this a positive outcome, ensuring immediate and regular revenue for the Treasury.
A significant development is the public tender for the Lotto game concession. The tender commission proposed awarding the concession to a company that offered 2.230 billion euros, significantly higher than the base auction price of one billion euros. The Agency will proceed with the award within thirty days after completing the necessary checks.
Shifting Trends in Gaming
Alesse noted a shift in gaming preferences. In 2019, the total revenue from the sector was 110 billion euros, with approximately 36 billion euros from online gaming and nearly double that from “physical” gaming (e.g., bingo and Superenalotto). After the lockdown, this trend reversed, with online gaming experiencing exponential growth. In 2024, online gaming surpassed 92 billion euros, compared to approximately 65 billion euros from physical gaming. Overall, the total revenue reached 157.5 billion euros, generating approximately 11.5 billion euros in tax revenue.
Future Regulations
The regulations are still under technical review, with a final discussion planned in the State-Regions Conference in the coming weeks. The goal is to initiate the tender process for the concessions, in line with European principles and directives.
Efforts Against Illegal Gambling
When asked about the rise of illegal gambling, Alesse acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining precise data. However, he stated that in 2024, the Agency, in collaboration with the Guardia di Finanza and the State Police, conducted over 28,000 inspections and blocked 721 websites dedicated to illegal gambling.
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