jili tutorial

Sisal Launches Italy’s First Dedicated Olympic Lottery: A Comprehensive Guide

By jili tutorial · September 11, 2026

Sisal Launches Italy’s First Dedicated Olympic Lottery: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction: A New Era for Italian Olympic Funding

On 28 September, Italy’s National Olympic Committee (CONI) and lottery operator Sisal will launch “Vinci Italia” — the country’s first lottery draw specifically designed to raise direct, ring-fenced funds for the Italian Olympic and Paralympic teams. Announced by CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio and Sisal CEO Roberto Di Fonzo, the initiative marks a major milestone in Italian sports financing after more than two decades without a dedicated lottery for the national team.

This guide explores every facet of the new lottery: how it works, how proceeds are distributed, the historical partnership between Sisal and Italian sport, and the broader regulatory and political context surrounding sports funding in Italy.

How the Vinci Italia Lottery Works

Daily Draw Structure and Ticket Pricing

Vinci Italia will operate as a daily lottery draw across Sisal’s network of 35,000 retail points and its online platform. Players choose a combination of 40 numbers per ticket, with each combination priced at €2. The draw takes place every day, offering frequent opportunities for players to win.

Guaranteed Jackpot and Prize Pool

To generate immediate excitement, Sisal is offering opening jackpots that guarantee a total prize pool of €2 million for the first draws. This ensures that early participants have a significant chance of winning substantial amounts, which is expected to drive initial uptake and public interest.

Allocation of Proceeds

The financial structure of Vinci Italia is designed to balance player rewards with direct support for Team Italia:

This model ensures that for every €2 ticket sold, approximately €0.54 flows directly into Olympic and Paralympic sports development — a sustainable, transparent funding stream.

The Partnership: CONI and Sisal

A Seven-Year Journey to Launch

The development of Vinci Italia took seven years and involved close collaboration among CONI, Sisal, the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM), and government representatives. The long gestation period reflects the complexity of creating a regulated lottery that meets legal, fiscal, and sporting objectives.

CONI’s Vision: Reviving a Tradition

CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio described the lottery as one of his first priorities after being elected in 2025. He stated: “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.”

The “23 years” refers to the period since Italy’s last dedicated sports lottery was discontinued. Buonfiglio sees Vinci Italia as a modern continuation of that legacy.

Sisal’s Historical Role in Italian Sport

Sisal is no newcomer to sports funding. The company launched its first football pools coupon in 1946, with proceeds used to rebuild stadiums damaged during World War II. That game evolved into the famous Totocalcio, which came under CONI’s management in 1948. Sisal’s CEO Roberto Di Fonzo emphasised: “We are providing the strength of our network, our capacity for innovation and the experience gained over time to provide concrete and continuous support to the Italian Olympic movement.”

Why a Lottery, Not Sports Betting?

CONI was careful to distinguish Vinci Italia from sports betting. Luca Mornati, a CONI official, explained: “We are not talking about betting. This is a lottery that allows everyone to contribute to our sporting movement and the success of our athletes.”

The distinction matters legally and ethically. Lotteries are games of pure chance, whereas sports betting involves predicting outcomes and carries different regulatory and social implications. By framing the product as a lottery, CONI avoids the stricter advertising and sponsorship restrictions imposed on betting by Italy’s 2018 Dignity Decree (see below).

Connecting Numbers to Athletes and Events

To increase engagement, CONI plans to associate lottery numbers with Italian athletes, Olympic disciplines, and major sporting events. For instance, a player might see the number “10” linked to a famous gymnast or the number “2026” connected to the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. This creative element aims to educate the public about less well‑known athletes and build emotional attachment to the national team.

“Not all young athletes are well known in the media, and our objective is to ensure that people get to know them,” Mornati stated.

Broader Regulatory and Political Landscape

The Dignity Decree and Its Impact on Sports Funding

In 2018, Italy’s Dignity Decree imposed a near‑total ban on gambling advertising and sponsorship. Italian sports organisations have repeatedly argued that this blanket restriction removed a vital source of commercial revenue from professional clubs, federations, and governing bodies. While no repeal has yet been approved, the debate continues.

The Proposed “Right-to-Bet” Levy

Negotiations involving Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, CONI, Serie A, and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) have led to an in‑principle agreement to introduce a 2% levy on sports betting wagers. This “Right-to‑Bet” scheme would direct funds to the FIGC for youth academies, infrastructure, women’s and amateur football, and programmes addressing gambling‑related harm.

However, talks have stalled due to internal FIGC politics following the election of Giovanni Malagò as new FIGC president. Disagreements over broadcast rights and financial controls have created fractures within Italian football.

Budget 2027: A Hard Deadline

The Meloni government is preparing Italy’s final Budget 2027 ahead of the next general election. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has warned that all negotiations and proposals — including any changes to the Dignity Decree or the introduction of the betting levy — must be submitted and accounted for by the end of September. No exceptions will be made, even for the sake of Italian football.

This tight deadline adds urgency to the discussions, and Vinci Italia’s launch on 28 September is strategically timed to demonstrate a successful, non‑controversial model of sports funding that bypasses the advertising ban.

What This Means for Italian Sport

A Direct, Ring‑Fenced Revenue Stream

Unlike previous arrangements where general gambling taxes flowed into state budgets before being allocated to sport, Vinci Italia guarantees that 27% of ticket sales goes directly to CONI for the Olympic team. This ring‑fencing provides predictable, dedicated funding for training, equipment, coaching, and athlete welfare across both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines.

Reviving Public Participation

By making the lottery accessible at 35,000 retail points and online, CONI hopes to re‑engage millions of Italians in supporting their national team through a simple, everyday act. The daily draw format and attractive jackpots are designed to sustain interest over time.

A Model for Other Nations?

Italy’s approach could serve as a blueprint for other countries seeking sustainable, politically acceptable ways to fund elite sport without relying on general taxation or controversial betting sponsorships. The partnership between a state‑owned Olympic committee and a private operator like Sisal, combined with strict regulation by the ADM, offers a balanced framework.

Conclusion

The launch of Vinci Italia on 28 September represents more than just a new lottery — it is the culmination of years of legislative effort, historical tradition, and strategic partnership. For Italian athletes, it promises a stable financial foundation; for the public, it offers an entertaining way to contribute to national pride. As the political clock ticks toward Budget 2027, this initiative may also influence broader reforms in Italian sports funding, including the fate of the Dignity Decree and the proposed betting levy.

Whether you’re a casual player, a sports enthusiast, or an industry observer, Vinci Italia is a development worth watching.