Football Betting in Italy at €16.1 Billion in 2024

Italian football has always been a significant cultural and entertainment phenomenon, but in 2024 it cemented its status as a major economic contributor, particularly through the lens of the betting industry. According to data from the ReportCalcio 2025, an effort by FIGC's Research Centre in collaboration with AREL and PwC Italy, the amount wagered on football reached a groundbreaking €16.1 billion, marking an eightfold increase since 2006. Furthermore, this surge in betting activity also led to unprecedented tax revenue, which touched €401.6 million, underscoring the increasingly intertwined relationship between football and the betting industry in Italy's financial landscape.

Football’s Expanding Economic Influence

The economic significance of football in Italy is not limited to just revenues from matches. The broader football ecosystem significantly contributed to Italy’s economy by adding €12.4 billion to the national GDP during the years 2023 and 2024, a notable rise of over €1 billion from prior years. This industry also supported approximately 141,000 full-time jobs, highlighting football's critical role as an employer by contributing €1.20 for every €200 of GDP and providing six jobs for every 1,000 employed individuals. This vast monetary contribution is attributed to five main areas: professional football, which brought in €5.2 billion; youth and amateur activities, inclusive of those organized by FIGC, contributing €2.9 billion; betting on football at €1.8 billion; media and broadcasting with €1.2 billion; and finally, football tourism adding €1.3 billion. These figures exhibit the multifaceted ways in which football bolsters the Italian economy.

The Strong Link Between Betting and Football

The ever-strengthening relationship between football and betting is evident in the wagering behaviors centered around Serie A events. In 2024 alone, domestic bets on Serie A reached nearly €3 billion, while the global turnover soared to €34 billion, with significant participation from Asian and European markets. Football's dominance in the sports betting arena is clear; it is the focus of all top 50 sports betting events in Italy. While tennis stands as the next most popular sports betting option, it remains far behind with only €4 billion wagered, contributing just over €100 million in taxes. UEFA Euro 2024 further demonstrated this trend. Throughout the tournament, €70.8 million was wagered on Italy's matches alone, and the entire event saw €790.5 million in bets, generating €19 million in tax returns. Despite strict advertising controls within Italy, betting continues to fuel European football economically. In 2024, there were 128 active sponsorship deals with betting organizations within top leagues, with betting entities constituting 19% of shirt sponsors. However, challenges persist as a significant portion of the bets, approximately €16 billion, are processed by foreign or unregulated operators, potentially limiting the financial benefits for the country. As Italy sits at a crucial juncture, the results of ReportCalcio make one thing clear: betting is an essential strategic component for football. Moving forward, policymakers face a pivotal decision between clamping down with tighter regulations, which might inadvertently drive activities to uncontrollable offshore markets, or establishing a modernized regulatory framework that ensures economic benefits are maximized while maintaining stringent oversight mechanisms. Source: Source: “Football betting in Italy: record-breaking €16.1 billion wagered in 2024”, figc.it. August 2025 By GamesAndCasino