Italy’s regulated Gaming sector under the spotlight: AS.TRO Event in Rome to address future of legal entertainment
Italy’s regulated gaming industry is preparing for a key moment of reflection and discussion. On Thursday, 17 July, at 11:00 a.m., the event “The Future of Entertainment: Market, Regulation and Innovation” will take place in Rome, hosted by the ADI Concessionaires Section of AS.TRO – Confindustria SIT. The venue for the conference will be the Adnkronos Information Palace, located in Piazza Mastai in the capital’s historic centre.
The title of the event reflects the three pillars shaping the future of the industry: a transparent and regulated market, clear and stable legislation, and a vision of innovation-led growth. The gathering will be a strategic opportunity to assess the current state and prospects of Italy’s public gaming sector, with a focus on land-based operations and amusement machines.
Legal gaming at a crossroads: time for a structured dialogue
The Italian legal gaming sector is undergoing a significant transition. After years of debate and fragmented regulations, the industry sees this meeting as an opportunity to reopen institutional dialogue and build a long-term strategic approach. The event will be opened by the presentation of a new report from CGIA Mestre, an authoritative economic analysis providing updated data on revenues, employment, fiscal contribution and the sector’s impact on national GDP.
The conference will also launch the “2,500 Square Centimetres of Legality” campaign. This public awareness initiative highlights the importance of land-based venues as legally compliant, transparent and socially responsible spaces, in stark contrast to unregulated or illegal offerings.
Key industry figures to lead the conversation
The event will feature top representatives from across the regulated gaming ecosystem, including business leaders, policy experts and technical professionals. The discussion will be moderated by Andrea Bassi, an economic journalist at Il Messaggero, and will include insights from industry executives such as Armando Iaccarino, Gennaro Parlati, Marco Piatti, Giuseppe Volpe, and Marco Zega.
The event’s closing remarks will be delivered by two prominent institutional figures: Senator Massimo Garavaglia, Chair of the Senate Finance and Treasury Committee, and Mario Lollobrigida, Director of Gaming at the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM). Their participation underscores the importance of regulatory engagement at a time when the sector is seeking legal clarity and long-term sustainability.
Economic weight and public value of Italy’s gaming sector
The legal gaming sector in Italy generates over €11.5 billion in annual turnover from land-based activities alone. Beyond the numbers, however, the industry positions itself as a key ally in the fight against illegal gambling, a major taxpayer, and a responsible player in addressing gambling addiction.
In this context, AS.TRO and its members – Cirsa, Codere Network, Netwin and NTS – are promoting a modern and responsible model of entertainment: one that is regulated, sustainable and legally safeguarded. Their goal is to affirm the role of the legal channel as an economic driver and social stabiliser in an increasingly digitalised market.
A strategic opportunity to shape the future of regulated entertainment
The 17 July event in Rome serves as a platform for both listening and policy proposals. It aims to gather meaningful input to support a comprehensive reform of the public gaming framework and to lay the foundation for a more robust, transparent and forward-thinking governance model.
As policymakers and stakeholders prepare to meet, this initiative seeks to put regulated entertainment back on the public agenda – not as a marginal issue, but as a strategic sector worthy of investment, reform and protection.
This article was first published in Italian on 14 July 2025.
