Italy’s online gambling sector is entering a new era as the country’s Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) has approved 46 applications for new online gambling licences.
This significant development follows the official close of the ADM’s tender process on May 30th, 2025, marking a pivotal step in the government’s comprehensive reform of its online gambling regulations.
The approved operators include major international and domestic brands such as Betfair, Bet365, Snaitech, Sisal, William Hill and LeoVegas, all of which 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 modernise the country’s gambling framework, enhance regulatory oversight and generate substantial revenue for the state.
Each licence, valid for nine years, comes at a cost of €7m (£6m) per vertical per brand, a dramatic increase from the previous fee of €200,000 (£172,000).
The Ministry of Economy and Finance had set a target of €350m (£301m) in licensing revenue, a figure now achieved with 46 successful applications.
The framework also introduces stricter eligibility criteria, requiring operators to maintain headquarters within the European Economic Area and demonstrate at least €3m (£2.5m) in revenue over the past two years.
Transition Period and Regulatory Impact
Following the approval, operators are required to pay the initial portion of the licence fee and undergo further technical and financial checks before the licences are formally awarded, a process expected to conclude by September 2025.
Once granted, operators will have up to six months to launch their services under the new regime.
To ensure a smooth transition, existing licence-holders are permitted to continue operations until March 2026, after which only those with new licences will be allowed to operate in the Italian market.
The overhaul also introduces new operational rules, including a one-domain-per-licence policy, effectively ending the use of multi-brand “skins” and reducing the number of active gambling websites in Italy from around 420 to just 50.
This move is expected to consolidate the market, with only the largest and most financially robust operators able to absorb the increased costs and compliance requirements.
The regulatory changes are designed to strengthen consumer protection, combat unlicensed gambling, and ensure that platforms implement player safeguards such as deposit limits and responsible gaming notifications.
Italy’s approval of 46 new online gambling licences signals a major transformation for the industry, setting the stage for a more regulated, transparent, and competitive market in the years ahead.
The next phase will see the formal awarding of licences and the rollout of new platforms, reshaping the landscape for both operators and players across the country.
