Italy extends online gambling licence approval process to November
Summary
Italy’s gambling regulator, Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM), has pushed the deadline for processing new online gambling licence applications to 12 November 2025 so staff can complete full checks. The approval window had previously been scheduled to end on 17 September 2025; successful applicants would then have six months to launch.
ADM did not specify whether the extension will alter plans for existing licence-holders, who were told they can continue to operate until March 2026, after which only holders of the new licences will be permitted to offer services.
Source
Source: https://igamingbusiness.com/legal-compliance/italy-extends-online-gambling-licence-process/
Key Points
- • ADM will process online gambling licence applications until 12 November 2025 to allow complete vetting of applicants.
- • 46 applications received initial approval; notable names include Betfair/Snaitech/Sisal (Flutter), 888 Italia, Hillside (Bet365), LeoVegas, Betsson and William Hill.
- • Approved applicants must now pay a licence fee of €7 million per vertical per brand — a large increase from the €200,000 fee in 2018 and a major barrier for some operators.
- • ADM previously allowed current licence-holders to operate until March 2026; the agency has not clarified how the extension affects that timetable.
- • New regulatory changes include tax rates of 24.5% (sports betting) and 25.5% (casino) of GGR plus an annual fee of 3% of GGR.
- • Operators must spend at least 0.2% of GGR on responsible gambling initiatives (capped at €1 million) and implement player protection tools — deposit, spend and time limits, and self-exclusion options.
- • The reforms are expected to drive market consolidation in Europe’s largest online gambling market.
Why should I read this?
Short version: if you have skin in the Italian market, this matters. The timeline shift, massive licence fee hike and tougher taxes and player-protection rules will reshape who can afford to operate in Italy. Read on so you know whether to speed up your plans, rethink budget, or sit this round out.
Context and relevance
The extension gives ADM extra time to vet candidates but leaves uncertainty over the transition timeline for existing operators. The sharp rise in the licence fee and higher tax burdens are likely to favour large incumbents or well-funded entrants, accelerating consolidation. For operators, affiliates and suppliers, the changes alter commercial calculus — from pricing and margins to compliance and product design focused on player protection.
Source
Source: https://igamingbusiness.com/legal-compliance/italy-extends-online-gambling-licence-process/