Italy’s new online gambling regime is beginning to take shape with the news that 46 operators have applied for licenses.
The country’s Ministry of Economy has secured 46 applications for new online casino licenses, each one coming at a cost of €7 million.
The government were aiming to reach €350 million in licensing revenue, so six more applications would hit that target.
Previously, licenses in Italy were priced at just €200,000 and the new figure, 35 times bigger, represents a stark contrast of the new reality.
Italy’s gambling reform is a hot topic, especially following the news of bet365’s deal with Serie A champions Napoli despite the Dignity Decree of 2018 imposing a strict prohibition on all gambling-related advertising and sponsorships in connection with sporting and cultural events.
Italy’s New Online Gambling Regime Explained
Last December, Italy announced a comprehensive reform of the gambling industry with a new nine-year licensing regime aimed at modernising regulations and generating significant revenue for the government.
Under the new framework, operators have to pay a €7 million authorisation fee for each license alongside a 3% operating fee. As well as the €350 million in licensing revenue, an additional €100 million is projected to arrive in fixed concession charges.
There are a number of strict requirements in order for operators to meet the eligibility criteria. They must maintain legal or operational headquarters within the European Economic Area, hold a valid gaming license and prove revenue of €3 million or more over the last two years.
The legislation, titled the Reorganisation Decree, seeks to safeguard against criminal activity, protect players – with a focus on minors – and increase tax revenue for social initiatives and government projects.
Last month, the application period for new gambling licenses ended and it’s expected that only the biggest operators like Flutter, Lottomatica and Eurobet will be able to absorb the cost and remain competitive.
Flutter, for example, who will control around 30% of the market alone, recently acquired Italian sports betting company Snaitech Italia for an incredible €2.3 billion.
They could have had an even bigger share if successful in their bid to run Italy’s lottery license, one of the most lucrative on the planet, but International Gaming Technology got over the line instead.
Who Has Applied For Online Gambling Licenses In Italy?
Some of the planet’s biggest sports betting apps have thrown their hat in the ring such as:
- Lottomatica
- Flutter
- IGT
- Novomatic
- Eurobet
- Betpoint
- Netwin
- NTS
- Microgame
- Stake
- DAZN Bet
- Marathonbet
- E-Play24/Cirsa
- Winamax
- Evoke (William Hill and 888)
- Betsson
- bet365
- Stanleybet
- LeoVegas
Joe Lyons is a betting industry writer for GamblingIndustryNews with years of experience on reputable gambling websites. Joe specialises in long form content in the world of sports betting and gambling. Joe is recognised as an expert in sports fields such as horse racing, soccer, NFL and NBA.
