Legal gaming in Campania: 2025 numbers and checks on irregular gaming halls

In 2025, gambling revenue in Campania reached €21.562 billion, the second highest in Italy after Lombardy. The figures come from Libera's analysis of data from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which ANSA reported on April 17. The national total stood at €165.344 billion, a 5% increase, while online gambling alone exceeded €100.88 billion, a 9% increase over the previous year.

These numbers demonstrate how the contrast with the path towards illegal gambling is clear: in January, in an arcade in Cesa, Carabinieri and Customs officials found eleven "ghost" slot machines disconnected from the state network , resulting in a fine of 121 thousand euros.

Collection does not mean spending

Before reading these figures as a bill presented to the people of Campania, it's important to understand what they measure. The wager adds up all bets, including winnings that the player immediately puts back into play: ten euros won and wagered again counts twice. In fast-paced games, such as online slots, the same amount can change dozens of times in a matter of minutes, and therefore the actual expenditure—that is, what remains for the operators and the government—is a much smaller fraction of the total.

The region's influence remains evident. According to the 2025 ministerial report on gaming, Campania accounts for 16,6% of active gaming accounts on digital platforms, the highest share in Italy, ahead of Lombardy's 13%. This data reflects a region where remote gaming has become a widespread practice, rather than a niche phenomenon.

A market with new rules

Starting November 13, 2025, Italian online gaming will operate under new concessions: 52 licenses for 46 companies, each costing €7 million. Each concessionaire can operate only one site, ending the era of twin brands operating under the same license—about 350 in total. The result is a market with fewer, larger brands, which the Customs and Monopolies Agency can more easily control. For gamers, the practical consequence is a clearer choice: each legal trademark corresponds to a specific concession, which can be verified in just a few minutes.

Every slot machine offered by a licensed operator must be certified and connected to the Agency's systems, which record every play. Anyone wishing to understand which platforms comply with these conditions can find a summary of the license, catalog, and responsible gaming tools in the guides that summarize the best ADM online slots sites . This should always be accompanied by direct verification on the Agency's website.

The Cesa case and off-grid machines

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the case that emerged in Cesa, in the Aversa countryside, is the complete opposite. In January, in an arcade, Carabinieri from the local station, together with officials from the Caserta Department of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discovered eleven unauthorized slot machines not connected to the state's computer network. The administrative fines reached €121, and the police reported the owner at large.

Machines of this type remain unchecked: no one verifies the age of the players, the legitimacy of the games, or the flow of money. There is no protection for those who use them, and for the state, it is an area that completely escapes oversight.

Comparison with the past helps us understand the trend. According to the Ministry's report, revenue from land-based slot machines fell from €25,4 billion in 2017 to €14,9 billion in 2025, while remote gaming continued to grow. The focus has shifted from physical locations to mobile screens, but incidents like the one at Cesa demonstrate that controls must cover both channels, because illegal gambling hasn't disappeared with the decline in traditional machines.

Come earn an authorized operator

The first check remains the simplest: look for the ADM logo and license number at the bottom of the page, and compare them with the list of licensees the Agency publishes on its website. Any site not listed is operating illegally, no matter what it promises. During registration, authorized sites verify the identity and age of those opening an account and reject minors. Once logged in, you can set deposit and time limits from your profile or request self-exclusion, which means voluntary access blocking for a period of time determined by the player.

Anyone in the province of Naples who feels gambling is becoming a problem can contact the Local Health Authority's Addiction Services or call the Istituto Superiore di Sanità's toll-free hotline at 800 558822, free and anonymous. Children under 18 are not allowed to gamble, and gambling can lead to pathological addiction.

The figures from Campania reveal how widespread gambling is, while the Cesa case highlights the difference: an authorized offering leaves traces of every play, while an unplugged machine does not.