Italian Poker Boom: Live Renaissance in Campione, Venice, and Malta

The Italian poker scene in September 2026 resembles a phoenix rising from the ashes. A few years ago, asking about poker in Italy often resulted in a shrug. Traditional locations like Campione had vanished, Saint Vincent was dormant, and the grand halls of Venice kept their decks stored away. However, the tide has turned. Italy has found its way back to the poker table and is establishing itself alongside Malta as the premier destination for players across Europe. The return of Casino Campione on Lake Lugano, in particular, has created a pull that extends far beyond national borders.

This upswing is no accident; it is the result of strategic alliances between casinos and major tournament organizers. Names like Texapoker, Eurorounders, and Imperium are shaping the landscape. While King’s Resort in Rozvadov continues to attract masses of Italian players through Eurorounders, the action is now shifting back to the peninsula. The legal situation remains intriguing. While the four state-sanctioned casinos—Campione, Saint Vincent, Venice, and Sanremo—operate on solid ground, private clubs like Imperium in Milan operate in a gray area often described as Poker Sportivo.

Numbers and facts

Casino Campione currently leads the pack. Under the management of Luca Pagano, a PokerStars Liveroom has been established, attracting a steady local audience. A highlight in the calendar is the Sunday Million Live planned for October, featuring a guaranteed prize pool of 1,000,000 euros. A new wind is also blowing in Venice at the venerable Ca’ Vendramin Calergi. During the La Notte Degli Assi festival, running from October 11 to 19, a massive million-euro guarantee awaits participants with a moderate buy-in of 600 euros.

On the Mediterranean island of Malta, competition is intensifying. Casino Malta is enticing players to the Autumn Edition of the Battle of Malta with a 2,000,000 euro GTD. Simultaneously, Portomaso Casino is bringing out the big guns. In collaboration with Eurorounders, they are hosting a festival with a total guarantee of 3,000,000 euros. The pace was already evident in early 2026: the Italian Poker Open (IPO) festival at Portomaso included ten events with a total of 700,000 euros in guarantees, with the Main Event alone promising 500,000 euros.

Background

The legal framework in Italy is complex. Italian criminal law generally classifies gambling as illegal but strictly distinguishes between pure games of chance and games of skill. Poker is recognized as a game of skill under certain conditions. The regulatory body Agenzia Dogane e Monopolio di Stato (AAMS) oversees the sector. Since the legislative changes of 2006 and 2007, various poker variants, including Texas Hold’em, have been legalized, provided the operators hold the necessary licenses. Taxes in Italy are levied on profits rather than turnover, with skill game organizers paying a 3 percent levy on total buy-ins sold.

"Italy is playing as much poker as ever before. And on top of that, Eurorounders is bringing massive numbers of players to King’s Resort Rozvadov for million-euro events." - Pokerexklusiv Editorial Team, Live Poker Specialist Portal

The situation for clubs like Imperium Milano is particularly interesting. Since they officially offer no cash gambling but rely on the sporting aspect, they utilize a legal loophole similar to the former Concord Card Casinos in Austria. However, final regulation for these clubs is on the horizon to provide legal certainty for both operators and players.

Why it matters for German players

For German poker players, the offerings in Italy and Malta sound tempting, but the legal framework at home remains strict. Anyone playing online poker in Germany must adhere to the rules of the 2021 State Treaty on Gambling. This means participation is only allowed with providers listed on the official whitelist of the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL). German players are bound by a monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros across all providers, monitored by the LUGAS system. Furthermore, a 1-euro-per-spin limit applies to virtual slots, which, while calculated differently for online poker, indicates the general direction of strict regulation. Travel to major live events in Campione or Malta is legal, but winnings may need to be declared for tax purposes in Germany if done professionally. To play safely, one should exclusively use GGL-licensed platforms and avoid operators with MGA or Curacao licenses, which are considered illegal gambling in Germany.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

The renaissance of live poker in Italy could also influence the German market. GGL-licensed providers must prepare for players increasingly seeking hybrid experiences—meaning online qualifiers for major live events in other European countries. As the German market is heavily regulated by the LUGAS system and strict deposit limits, licensed providers could create attractive incentives through partnerships with Italian or Maltese casinos within the framework of the GlüStV 2021. It is clear that the desire for large prize pool guarantees, such as the 2 million euros at the Battle of Malta, remains unbroken. German providers must find ways within the legal framework to compete against unregulated market offerings.