Lotteries in Italy: Overview, Rules, Taxes, and How Participation Works

Last updated: 10 February 2026
Reviewed by: Jonathan

Italy’s lottery market is centrally regulated. The Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) supervises lotteries, instant games, and regulated gambling, issues national concessions to operators, and enforces rules on draws, payouts, integrity controls, and player protection. This page explains how the system works, which national lotteries exist, what is allowed regarding international participation, and how taxation and claims are handled.

Quick facts (summary)

Regulator and supervisor: Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM)
Policy and fiscal framework: Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF)
Licensing model: National concessions issued by ADM, no independent regional lottery licensing
Operations model: Daily operation outsourced to concession holders (private operators)
Integrity controls: ADM oversight of draw procedures, payouts, systems security, and operator compliance

Online lottery brokers for Italy

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How the lottery system in Italy is organised

The organisation of lotteries in Italy falls under the supervision of ADM, the national authority responsible for all lotteries, instant games, and regulated gambling activities. ADM issues concessions for numeric lottery products (such as Lotto and SuperEnalotto) to private operators. A long-standing example is the operator consortium LottoItalia, which operates systems and manages infrastructure under contract.

The role of the state is primarily regulatory and supervisory. ADM defines rules, concession and ministerial levies, game rules, and player protection standards, while daily operations are performed by concession holders. The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) determines the general regulatory framework and fiscal rules, including stake-related levies and the tax treatment of winnings.

Italy’s licensing structure is monolithic. ADM issues national licences for lotteries and instant games and does not grant independent lottery licences to regional or commercial providers outside the concession-based system. Every lottery must comply with national lottery rules and the general instant-game framework that entered into force in 2026, tightening system security and control requirements.

Oversight and regulation rely on specific lottery and instant-game rulebooks that define procedures for draws, payouts, verification controls, and player protection. ADM also checks the fiscal and social-law compliance of operators and lottery retail points, supporting the integrity of the broader chain of products such as Lotto, SuperEnalotto, 10eLotto, Gratta e Vinci, Lotteria Italia, and Lotteria degli scontrini.

National lotteries in Italy

The main national lottery formats are organised through ADM concessions and are valid across Italy.

SuperEnalotto

Type: Draw-based lottery with large jackpots, based on 6 out of 90
Draw frequency: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening
Purpose: General lottery product with part of revenues supporting public objectives

Lotto

Type: Classic numeric lottery based on 5 out of 90, with additional formats (including 10eLotto)
Draw frequency: Multiple draws, often several times per day at set times
Purpose: Mass-market lottery product with revenue streams regulated under the national framework

10eLotto

Type: Dynamic lotto format with a machine-driven extra draw, linked to Lotto
Draw frequency: Daily, with multiple draws per day
Purpose: High-frequency format with lower prize levels than classic lotto products

Gratta e Vinci (instant tickets)

Type: Instant lottery, scratch or scan-based
Draw frequency: No draws, outcome is revealed at activation or scanning
Purpose: Low-stake accessible format with revenues administered under the national system

Lotteria Italia

Type: Annual national lottery with large top-tier prizes
Draw frequency: One annual main draw, with a sequence of pre-draw events
Purpose: Traditional national lottery with a broad public focus, supporting public objectives

Lotteria degli scontrini (receipt lottery)

Type: Lottery linked to fiscal receipts and electronic transactions rather than classic tickets
Draw frequency: Weekly, monthly, and annual draws on a fixed schedule
Purpose: Incentivises compliant electronic payments and fiscal transparency, supported by public communication objectives

International lotteries and what is allowed in Italy

In practice, international lottery participation is permitted in Italy only when the product is offered through an ADM-licensed provider or through an equivalent regulated framework within the EU that aligns with Italy’s national oversight and fiscal requirements.

Multi-country European formats that are sold in Italy via ADM or concession-based entities operating under ADM rules can be treated as legally offered international lotteries. By contrast, operators that actively target Italian consumers without an ADM licence, or without being subject to Italy’s supervisory and fiscal rules, are not considered permitted within the Italian regulatory model.

Players using non-licensed platforms operate outside ADM’s protection mechanisms. This can affect the enforceability of participation terms and the certainty of prize payment under Italian standards. Participation is legally secure only when the provider is licensed by ADM or an equivalent EU regulator and the offering complies with Italy’s lottery and tax rules. In such cases, participation rules, payout procedures, and tax handling are governed by the concession holder under ADM norms.

Participation from abroad (non-Italian residents)

Participation from abroad in Italian lotteries is generally possible when the ticket is purchased through an ADM-licensed operator, or through an authorised foreign platform that has a direct contractual relationship with ADM or an Italian concession holder.

Italian law tends to link legal accessibility more to the licensed ticket provider than to the player’s nationality. Legal boundaries for a foreign participant are often driven by the player’s home-country rules, not by Italian law itself.

Participation via an ADM-licensed operator is typically more legally robust than participation via an unlicensed foreign broker. In practice, intermediaries can operate lawfully only if they hold an Italian licence or if they operate through an Italian concession holder. Their role is facilitative: purchasing valid tickets within Italy and making them available to foreign players without the lottery itself being directly sold outside the authorised framework.

Tax on lottery winnings in Italy

Lottery winnings in Italy are typically tax-free up to €500. For winnings above €500, a 20% levy is withheld on the amount exceeding €500. The withholding is applied by the organiser before payout, meaning the winner receives the net amount while the organiser handles the tax reporting and payment.

This rule applies broadly to major national formats such as Lotto, SuperEnalotto, 10eLotto, and Gratta e Vinci, subject to ADM’s determination of any specific exceptions or special rules for particular games.

Lotteria Italia is commonly treated as an exception in practice, with prizes generally paid without additional withholding, so the winner receives the full prize amount. There is typically no formal distinction in the Italian tax treatment based on whether the ticket is “national” or “international” in origin. The applicable status is determined by Italian tax rules on the winnings, regardless of where the ticket was obtained.

Winners may still have tax obligations in their country of residence. That depends on the domestic rules of the winner’s home jurisdiction.

Payout and claim procedures

Winnings are paid via the provider through which the ticket was purchased. Payout typically occurs through bank transfer or via an ADM-affiliated lottery office. Payment is usually executed after the winner is identified and after verification of the ticket and proof of purchase within the combined administrative process used by the concession holder under ADM oversight.

Claim deadlines depend on the specific game. Many formats have a claim window typically ranging from 60 to 180 days after public announcement of the win, but the exact period is defined in the rules of each lottery product and can differ by format.

Unclaimed prizes are generally transferred back into ADM-administered funds or other public purposes, depending on the rules of the specific product. Once the valid claim period expires, the winner loses any right to the prize, regardless of the prize amount.

Frequently asked questions

Who regulates lotteries in Italy?

ADM (Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli) is the national supervisor for lotteries, instant games, and regulated gambling. It issues national concessions and defines compliance requirements for draw procedures, payouts, and player protection.

Can foreign residents legally participate in Italian lotteries?

Participation from abroad is generally possible if the ticket is purchased through an ADM-licensed provider or through an authorised platform operating via a concession holder under ADM standards. The player’s home-country rules may also apply.

How are lottery winnings taxed in Italy?

Winnings are typically tax-free up to €500. Above €500, a 20% levy is withheld on the amount exceeding €500, applied before payout. Lotteria Italia is commonly treated as an exception in practice, with prizes generally paid without additional withholding.

What happens if a prize is not claimed in time?

Unclaimed prizes are generally transferred to ADM-administered funds or other public purposes depending on the product rules. After the claim period expires, the winner loses the right to the prize.

Related pages on Italian lotteries

Editorial note