The online gambling sector in Italy is entering a new era. This change comes under the leadership of the country’s Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM). It has approved 46 applications for new online gambling licenses.
This marks a pivotal step in the government’s comprehensive reform of its online gambling regulations. The development follows the official close of ADM’s tender process on May 30.
The approved operators include both major international and domestic brands such as Betfair, Bet365, Snaitech, Sisal, William Hill, and LeoVegas. All of them now move forward to the next stage of the licensing process.
The new licensing regime is part of a broader effort by Italian authorities to modernize the country’s gambling network. It aims to enhance regulatory oversight and generate substantial revenue for the state.
Valid for nine years, each license comes at a cost of €7 million or £6 million per vertical per brand. This is a dramatic increase from the recent fee of €200,000 or £172,000.
The government set a target of €350 million (£301 million) in licensing revenue, which 46 successful applicants have now achieved.
Requiring operators to maintain headquarters within the European Area and demonstrate at least €3 million or £2.5 million in revenue over the past two years, the framework also introduces stricter eligibility criteria.
After receiving approval, operators must pay the initial portion of the license fee. They must also complete additional technical and financial checks before obtaining their licenses. Authorities expect to conclude this process by September of this year.
Operators will have up to six months to launch their services under the new regime once granted.
After the transition period, the Italian market will allow only operators with new licenses to operate. To ensure a smooth shift, authorities will allow existing license-holders to continue operations until March of the coming year.
