Italy extends online licence approval process to November

Italy’s Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) has announced an extension to the approval process for new online gambling licences in the country to November.

ADM, the government agency responsible for gambling regulation in Italy, will continue to process applications until 12 November. This, it said, will enable its staff to carry out full checks of applicants.

The process had initially been due to conclude by 17 September, after which successful operators would have six months to launch.

However, the agency did not clarify whether this extension would impact plans for existing licensees. Previously, ADM said current licence-holders could continue to offer gambling until March 2026, after which only those with new licences will be able to operate.

Who is in the running for a new licence in Italy?

ADM concluded its tender process to award remote gambling concessions on 30 May. In total, 46 applications have secured initial approval in Italy.

Among the successful applicants were Betfair, Snaitech and Sisal, all of which are owned by Flutter Entertainment. 888 Italia (Evoke), Hillside (Bet365), LeoVegas, Betsson and William Hill also secured initial approval from ADM.

For the next stage, those given the green light must now pay a licence fee of €7 million ($8.2 million). This fee applies to each vertical per brand.  

However, this licence fee has proved a major stumbling block for many operators. In the last round of licensing, the fee was set at €200,000, some way short of the new amount.

While 46 applications were put forward this time, the last licence procedure in 2018 drew a total of 93 submissions. Of those that applied, 81 were granted approval to offer online gambling in Italy.

What other new rules do online gambling operators face?

The latest round of reforms are likely to drive consolidation in Europe’s biggest online gambling market, experts have suggested.

Additional regulatory changes are planned under the new system.

One such amendment is the tax rate, which is now set at 24.5% and 25.5% of GGR for online sports betting and casino operators, respectively. This is on top of an annual fee of 3% of GGR.

Licensees must also spend at least 0.2% of their GGR on responsible gambling campaigns, with a cap of €1 million.

In addition, operators must ensure they are in line with new player protection rules. New laws require licensees to offer players the option to set limits on deposits, spend and playing time, as well as to self-exclude from online platforms.