In Bergamo, most people paid with cash. That made it easier for stores to avoid declaring sales, which meant lost tax revenue. Card payments were seen as inconvenient, and asking for a receipt felt awkward or unnecessary. To change this, the city launched a lottery campaign called Cashless City. Every time someone paid by card and scanned their receipt using the app, they were entered into daily and weekly prize draws. If the whole city hit a spending target, everyone benefited through upgrades like faster internet for local schools. The idea combined personal motivation with a shared civic goal.
Fast Facts
- Audience: Local shoppers and merchants
- Exposure · Duration: Entire city · 9‑month campaign
- Location: Bergamo, Italy
- Project type: Public incentive scheme via mobile app
- Delivered by: Municipality and card network providers
- Client: Comune di Bergamo
Problem:
Solution:
Outcome:
◼︎ Bronze
City‑level data with no control group. No official study published.
What do the ratings mean?
Small daily and weekly prizes created a personal reason to scan receipts and use cards.
The running total toward the city target lets residents track how close they are to unlocking the bigger civic prizes, like better school internet.
