Italy Awards 46 New Online Gambling Concessions

The Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance has granted 46 new online gambling concessions, marking the beginning of a reformed regulatory era for the sector, with a focus on enhanced consumer protections and market consolidation. Valued at €364 million in upfront fees, these nine-year licenses—each costing €7 million—cover sports betting, online casino games, and bingo, enabling operators to launch compliant platforms by March 2026. This overhaul, under the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM), modernizes Italy's €5 billion iGaming market—the second largest in Europe—by prioritizing responsible gambling measures and curbing unlicensed activity, fostering sustainable growth for new entrants.

Key Takeaways

• Operators navigate a streamlined yet rigorous framework, with a mandatory €450 monthly deposit cap and a 1% addiction levy that funds national harm prevention, setting benchmarks for EU compliance.
• Regulators, via ADM, enforce geo-blocking and self-exclusion through the national Jucando registry, reducing black market exposure estimated at 10-15% of total wagers.
• Players benefit from localized Italian-language interfaces, reality checks every 60 minutes, and expanded game diversity, with safeguards addressing the 2.5% problem gambling rate among 1.8 million active users.

Italy's online gambling landscape, regulated since 2011 under ADM oversight, has evolved through Decree-Law 124/2019 to combat addiction and money laundering amid EU directives. The concessions, awarded on November 12, 2025, following a competitive tender process launched in July, require operators to integrate advanced RG tools, such as behavioral analytics, and implement mandatory cooling-off periods. Successful applicants include established groups like SNAI and Lottomatica, family-owned companies with 70% institutional backing, alongside newcomers that partner with tech providers for seamless API integrations. The €7 million fee, up from €4 million in prior rounds, reflects inflation adjustments and funds ADM's expanded monitoring capabilities.

Market implications are significant: Italy's 85% mobile penetration drives projections of €6 billion in gross gaming revenue by year-end, with a 25% tax on GGR channeling €1.5 billion to public coffers for sports and social programs. For new operators, the framework lowers entry barriers through standardized compliance, but it requires annual audits of €100,000 and collaborations with certified payment gateways, such as PostePay. Competitive analysis reveals fragmentation among 46 licensees, with sports betting accounting for 60% of activity. Casino verticals could capture a 20-25% share through live dealer innovations from partners like Evolution.

Responsible gambling anchors the reform, with licenses mandating integration with the Jucando self-exclusion database, which covers 50,000 users, and partnerships with the Italian Responsible Gambling Observatory for treatment referrals. This addresses a 15% rise in helpline calls post-2020, exceeding baseline EU standards. Launch timelines stipulate full operations by March 31, 2026, after 90-day testing phases, with ADM consultations on Q2 2026 expansions for esports betting.

Broader trends highlight Italy's shift toward prioritizing player welfare, mirroring Germany's €1 monthly stake cap while striking a balance with revenue. Stakeholders forecast €200-300 million in added economic impact, empowering new ventures to innovate responsibly in a jurisdiction blending Mediterranean player volumes with stringent oversight.

Sources: SBC News, iGaming Business