The country continues to look for ways to streamline its gambling oversight
Italy has moved closer to overhauling its online gaming industry, with new reforms now in the final stages of approval. The proposed framework, which seeks to update the country’s online gambling concessions, has entered the final legislative process under the watchful eye of the European Commission (EC).
The EC has recently initiated an open consultation to review the technical aspects of Italy’s new gambling licensing system. As a member of the European Union, Italy is required to notify the EC about any legislative changes that could impact its domestic market and competition. The consultation is designed to gather input from EU member states and other stakeholders on how these reforms might affect Italy’s IT sector, particularly in relation to the management and operation of online gambling services.
The new licensing regime has now entered a mandatory three-month “standstill” period, during which EU member states can review and comment on the proposed changes. This period is set to end on October 18. If no significant objections or alterations are required, Italy’s Agency of Customs and Monopolies (ADM) will proceed with launching the new licensing framework.
The Italian government has set the cost for each new online gambling license at €7 million, with licenses valid for nine years. The new rules outline specific technical requirements that operators must meet, including secure communication with Sogei, the state’s IT service provider. Additionally, all gambling platforms will be required to maintain their IT infrastructure within the European Economic Area (EEA) to ensure compliance with EU data protection laws.
The new framework also emphasizes responsible gambling, mandating operators to include self-exclusion tools and options for players to limit or block their gambling activities. Furthermore, it continues to ban affiliated online websites, while allowing separate apps for different types of games, such as betting, casino games, poker, and bingo.
This licensing overhaul represents the first phase of Italy’s broader Gambling Reorganization Decree, which aims to modernize the country’s gambling laws. The next phase will focus on updating regulations for land-based gambling across Italy’s diverse regions and municipalities.
