Italy’s 2027 budget bill would make instant prizes possible in the receipt lottery, ending a delay that has left the option unused since it was provided for in a 2022 decree. The bill authorizes the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM), which administers the lottery, to open one or more bank or postal accounts to manage prize payments and enable winnings to be paid immediately.
For prizes below €5,000, winners would be able to collect payment by presenting the winning receipt, without being required to identify themselves. The measure is intended to simplify the payment of smaller prizes while respecting the rules limiting the use of cash.
The lottery already awards weekly and monthly prizes, as well as an annual top prize, to consumers and merchants. Its existing participation rules would remain in place: consumers must register on the lottery website to obtain a code, and purchases must be paid for electronically, by card or app.
Instant prizes were provided for in 2022, following concerns that learning about a win only after an extraction could discourage participation. However, the option was not put into practice because the existing payment arrangements were not suited to paying prizes immediately. The budget bill addresses that obstacle by allowing dedicated accounts to be opened for this purpose.
Sources: Il Sole 24 Ore Italia.