Italy's anticipated football betting revenue projected to reach €16.1 billion in 2024
Football Betting Transforms Italian Sports Industry and Economy
Football betting has become an integral part of the Italian sports landscape, particularly in the top professional league, Serie A. In 2022, the direct tax revenues from football betting alone amounted to €342 million, underscoring its growing significance [1][2].
Enhancing fan engagement, football betting offers a wide range of markets on Serie A matches, including match results, goalscorers, corners, cards, and player performance props. The industry provides dynamic live and pre-match betting options, with rapidly evolving odds tailored to Italy's popular football culture [1][2].
The economic impact of football betting extends beyond the sports industry. As of 2025, Italy's broader gaming market was valued at approximately $24.47 billion, with projections for further growth [3][4]. Exclusive partnerships, such as the deal with Genius Sports for live data and streaming rights through 2029, underscore betting's integration with sports media and digital content innovations [3][4].
The betting market also stimulates multiple revenue streams in the sports industry, contributing to the national economy through tax income. In 2022, professional football generated 70% of all sports sector tax revenues [2]. The tax revenues from football betting reached an absolute maximum of €401.6 million in 2024 [2].
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has also benefited from partnerships with brands such as Adidas, placing it among the top five national federations worldwide in terms of income from technical partnerships [5]. Italian football contributed €12.4 billion to Italy's GDP in 2023-2024, an increase of over €1 billion compared to the previous cycle [6]. The football ecosystem supported the equivalent of 141,000 full-time jobs in 2023-2024 [6].
Esports revenues in Italy reached €23.8 million in 2023, showing a +19.5% increase compared to 2022 [7]. Sponsorship agreements and media rights remain the main sources of esports income in Italy [7].
The SiGMA Central & Eastern Europe Summit will take place at the Fiera Roma exhibition complex from November 3-6, 2025, bringing together 30,000 participants, 1,200 exhibitors, and over 700 speakers [8]. The event is expected to further highlight the strategic role of the betting industry in Italy's football ecosystem.
Data from ReportCalcio 2025 indicates that the betting industry is a key driver of both the sports industry's popularity and economic impact. It brings direct financial benefits, tax revenues, jobs, and international market influence [9]. The UEFA European Championship 2024 saw €790.5 million in total betting turnover and €19 million in tax revenues [10]. Serie A generated nearly €3 billion in football betting turnover within Italy in 2024 [11].
In 2024, there were 128 active sponsorship agreements with betting companies in top European divisions [12]. The football betting segment grew from €2.1 billion in 2006 to €16.1 billion in 2024, almost eightfold [13]. From 2006 to 2022, professional football generated nearly €19.8 billion in tax revenues [14].
In summary, football betting plays a central role in Italian Serie A, enriching fan experience with diverse markets and live betting features. Exclusive data and streaming rights deals boost the industry's technological development and economic scale. Italy’s gaming market is valued at about $24.47 billion in 2025, with growth expected, partly driven by sports betting, including football. Football betting supports multiple revenue streams in the sports industry and contributes tax income to the national economy.
References: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] Available up to August 2025.
In the context of transforming the Italian sports industry and economy, sports-betting, particularly football betting, has become a significant contributor to the nation's tax revenues, with direct tax revenues reaching €342 million in 2022 [1][2]. The betting industry, notably in football, also stimulates multiple revenue streams within the sports sector, contributing towards Italy's GDP, as evidenced by professional football generating 70% of all sports sector tax revenues in 2022 [2].
