Lottomatica Q1 2026: Online Casino and Sports Betting Keep Driving Italy’s Gaming Market
Published: May 7, 2026 | Author: Ron Clarke
Lottomatica has started 2026 with a strong first quarter, and the message from its latest results is clear: the Italian gaming market is still growing, with online casino and sports betting continuing to lead the way.
For the three months ending 31 March 2026, the group collected €12.4 billion in bets, up 11% compared with the same period last year. Online was the strongest part of the business, with bets rising 15% year-on-year. For players, this is one of the most interesting details in the report, because it shows how much the Italian market is still moving toward digital gaming.
The online segment generated €264.7 million in revenues during the quarter, up 10% from Q1 2025. Lottomatica also explained that, if sports betting payout had been at a more normal level, online revenue growth would have been 17%. In simple terms, the company is saying that online activity was even stronger than the headline number shows, but sports results affected how much money was paid back to players.
The biggest signal, however, comes from market share. Lottomatica reached 31.8% of the total online market in Q1 2026. Its share was 32.5% in online sports betting and 32.2% in iGaming, which includes online casino products such as slots, online roulette, live casino and other digital games.
That online casino number is especially important. Lottomatica’s online casino market share increased by 1.9 percentage points compared with Q1 2025, showing that casino games are not just a secondary part of the business. They are one of the main reasons the group is growing online.
This matters for Italian players because a larger and more competitive online casino market usually means more attention on game selection, live casino products, mobile experience, promotions and brand loyalty. It does not mean better chances of winning, of course, but it does show where operators are focusing their energy.
Sports betting also had a strong quarter in terms of activity. Lottomatica’s Sports Franchise segment collected €1.17 billion in bets, up 12% from the same period last year. However, revenues in that segment fell 5% to €142.4 million. The reason was not a drop in player activity, but less favorable sports betting payout compared with Q1 2025. This is a useful reminder of how sports betting works from the operator side: even when more bets are placed, the final revenue can change depending on match results and payouts.
The Gaming Franchise segment, which includes land-based gaming activity, remained stable with €195.1 million in revenues. This shows that retail gaming is still a major part of Lottomatica’s business, but the real growth story is clearly online.
Overall, Lottomatica reported €602.3 million in total revenues for the quarter, up 3% year-on-year. Adjusted EBITDA reached €235.5 million, up 7%. For readers who do not follow financial reports, adjusted EBITDA is a common measure companies use to show operating performance before certain costs. The simple takeaway is that Lottomatica collected more bets, grew its online business, and improved its operating performance compared with last year.
Looking ahead, Lottomatica confirmed its 2026 forecast and said it expects adjusted EBITDA to finish at the top end of the expected range. For the Italian gambling market, that is a confident signal from one of its largest operators.
For players, the bigger picture is more practical than financial: online casino and sports betting are becoming even more central in Italy’s regulated market. Lottomatica’s Q1 results show strong demand, growing online market share and continued investment in digital gaming. As always, this growth should be seen as market news, not as a reason to gamble more. Casino games and betting should remain entertainment, with clear personal limits and responsible play.
