Italy’s Guardia di Finanza Finds 97 Illegal Betting Points

Italy’s Guardia di Finanza identified 97 illegal betting collection points during controls carried out in 2025 and the first five months of 2026. The figures were released as the Corps marked its 252nd anniversary in Foggia.

According to Guardia di Finanza, its wider enforcement activity over the period included around 1 million interventions and 100,000 investigations aimed at economic and financial offences, including criminal infiltration into the economy.

For the gambling sector, the most relevant data came from controls in the gambling and monopolies sector. Guardia di Finanza said its activity focused on the protection of players from illegal and unsafe gambling offers, with specific attention to minors and other vulnerable groups.

Guardia di Finanza said it filed reports against 553 people and blocked 50 illegal websites. The statement did not provide a breakdown by region, operator type, or betting channel.

For Italy’s licensed operators, the figures point to continued pressure from unlicensed retail betting points and illegal websites. Licensed operators still carry tax, AML, player protection, and technical compliance costs that illegal rivals may avoid.

💡TGJ Take

Italy’s latest figures are a reminder that enforcement is not only about player protection. It is also about the economics of the licensed market. For operators and affiliates, the key number is not just 97 illegal betting points, but 50 blocked websites. That shows the Guardia di Finanza treats illegal gambling as both a retail and online problem. Licensed brands should use this as a compliance and trust argument with players, especially in acquisition campaigns.