Olympic Lottery Vinci Italia: Sisal and CONI Launch Major Funding Project

Italy is witnessing a significant shift in its regulated gambling market as the National Olympic Committee (CONI) joins forces with established operator Sisal. The partnership has culminated in the launch of a new daily lottery titled Vinci Italia. This project is the result of a comprehensive seven-year development phase involving CONI, Sisal, the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM), and various government stakeholders. The primary objective is to create a ring-fenced, sustainable funding stream for Italian athletes ahead of upcoming international competitions.

The official ticket sales are scheduled to commence on September 28. The game features a daily draw based on a 40-number selection system. With tickets priced at €2 per combination, the lottery is designed to be accessible to a wide audience. A key feature of this initiative is its economic structure, which ensures that a significant portion of the proceeds is dedicated to a specific cause, making it a cornerstone of national athletic support.

Numbers and facts

The economic model of Vinci Italia is built on transparency. Exactly 65 percent of the total proceeds are allocated to the player prize pool. At launch, the lottery will feature guaranteed opening jackpots totaling €2 million. For CONI, the most critical figure is the guaranteed 27 percent of income that Sisal will distribute directly to the committee. These funds are specifically earmarked to support Team Italia throughout the Olympic cycle. Distribution will be handled via Sisal’s vast network, which includes 35,000 physical retail points and comprehensive online platforms.

Luciano Buonfiglio, President of CONI, highlighted the historical importance of the new lottery:

"After 23 years, we are reviving the tradition through a game whose benefits will be passed on to sporting activities. The credit goes to the successes of our athletes, starting with the Tokyo Olympic Games, moving on to Paris, Milano Cortina, the many World and European Championships, and finally the Mediterranean Games." - Luciano Buonfiglio, President, CONI

Background

The launch of this lottery coincides with high-stakes political negotiations regarding Italy’s upcoming Budget 2027 under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government. Discussions are currently focused on how to strengthen the financial standing of Italian sports and youth programs. A major point of contention remains the 2018 Dignity Decree, which imposed strict advertising and sponsorship bans on the gambling industry. While there are calls to relax these rules to help clubs find new revenue streams, no formal repeal has been approved. Concurrently, a proposed 2 percent levy on sports betting wagers for the benefit of football and amateur sports is being debated. Vinci Italia serves as a stable alternative that provides funding regardless of these ongoing legislative shifts.

Why it matters for German players

For German gambling enthusiasts, the launch of Vinci Italia has no direct impact, as it is a product exclusively for the Italian market. In Germany, the market is strictly regulated by the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). Participating in foreign lotteries or online casinos without a German license is illegal and carries significant risks regarding player protection. Anyone wishing to gamble legally in Germany must ensure the provider is listed on the GGL whitelist. Licensed operators must adhere to strict rules, such as the €1,000 monthly deposit limit across all platforms monitored by the LUGAS system. Furthermore, online slot stakes are capped at €1 per spin. Similar models of funding through lotteries exist in Germany via state lotteries or social lotteries, where proceeds are often directed toward social or environmental causes.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

GGL-licensed online casinos in Germany are closely monitoring these international developments. The Italian strategy demonstrates that gambling can be utilized as a legitimate tool for state funding and sports promotion when regulated correctly. For German operators, this reinforces the need to strictly follow player protection and addiction prevention guidelines to maintain social acceptance. The separation between pure gambling and sports-related betting is also strictly enforced by the GGL. A model where a fixed percentage of revenue goes directly to national sports federations could potentially influence German debates on the high regulatory hurdles if it were shown to significantly increase funding for grassroots sports.