This profile is being written
Modules appear as the analyst completes and publishes them. An empty module is never published.
1. Market overview
Where the market sits, who runs it and under what law.
Gambling business in Italy
Gambling in Italy is legal. Every year, this sphere of entertainment brings to the state budget up to 8 billion EUR. Italian laws allow not only land-based establishments, but also online casinos. The gambling industry in Italy is developing dynamically. The most popular types of gambling today are sports betting, poker, lotteries and slot machines.
Italian gambling legislation
At one time, the country became a pioneer in organizing gambling on a legal basis. It was here, or rather in Venice, in 1638 that the first casino in history was opened - the gambling house Ridotto. Gambling in Italy is now regulated by a law passed in 2010. According to him, the following types of gambling are allowed on the territory of the country:
- sports betting and other sweepstakes;
- card games;
- slots and other games controlled by a random number generator;
- lotteries;
- bingo and board games.
Until 2006 in Italy there was a ban on types of gambling, in which the winnings depended not on the skills of the player, but on the case. However, under the influence of the European Regulatory Commission, the Italian gambling industry, the authorities changed their position, and gradually the list of permitted games has expanded. Now the list is valid, which was formulated in the amendments to the law of 2011. In Italy, all categories of persons have admission to gambling, with the exception of those under the age of 18. Gambling establishments cannot be located near schools, churches and hospitals. Slot machines in Italy are allowed to be placed not only in casinos, but also in other public places with the appropriate permission.
Gambling regulation
In Italy, the Ministry of the Interior and the Autonomous Administration of State Monopolies oversee the activities of the gambling industry. Games based on sweepstakes and sports betting are taxed at 4.5% of gross income, for casinos 20% of gross profit. Bingo and lotteries have a flat tax rate of 11%. When holding poker tournaments, the operator is obliged to pay 3% of the total amount wagered by the players.
Conditions for obtaining a license
The license for gambling in Italy is issued by the AAMS (Autonomous Administration of State Monopolies). To obtain the relevant document, the company must have a minimum turnover of EUR 1,500,000. Over the past two years, before the application is filed, the organization must have registered offices in Italy.
A company planning to organize the operation of an online casino is obliged to provide confirmation that the equipment and software used is stable and safe. The obligatory one-time payment is 350,000 EUR. In addition, operators are required to periodically pay a concession fee of EUR 50,000.
- Licensed games
- The following types of gambling are licensed in Italy:
- games of skill;
- poker (including tournament games);
- casino games;
- bingo;
- sweepstakes;
- horse racing bets.
- The license is issued for 9 years and takes effect approximately 4-6 months after registration.
- Online gambling in Italy
Italy was the first country in the EU to officially allow online casinos at the legislative level. The path to the legalization of virtual gambling began in 2006. The reason for this was an investigation by the European Commission. The restrictions in force at that time were contrary to a number of EU directives. As a result, a law was passed in 2010 that removed virtual gambling from the ban.
The most popular betting services in Italy are Bet365, Snai, Eurobet, Unibet. The most popular lottery among Italians, according to statistics, is Sisal. Below is a list of the most visited online casinos in Italy:
- 888casino;
- Slotgallinaonline;
- Spin Palace;
- 32Red;
- Betfair;
- Betway.
According to Italian law, online gambling operators are obliged to provide technical means for the safety of players, as well as create conditions that prevent the involvement of minors in the game. Websites that do not comply with the requirements and do not have an Italian license are blocked by telecommunication service providers.
Popular slot machines
In Italy, as well as in other European regions, the products of world famous developers are popular: Greentube, Playtech, NetEnt, Betsoft, IGT, Microgaming and others. According to the ratings of Italian online casinos, the Book of Ra slot machine is the absolute favorite among the players in this country. The slot of the Austrian manufacturer Greentube, dedicated to the Egyptian theme, is popular both in the classic version and in the updated versions: Deluxe and Deluxe 6. Some of the most popular slots in Italy also include the following developments:
- Treasures of Troy (IGT);
- Dolphin's Pearl (Greentube);
- Starburst (NetEnt);
- Sizzling Hot Deluxe (Greentube);
- Gladiator (Playtech);
- Avalon (Microgaming).
There are no popular developers of slot machines in Italy, and mostly foreign software is in demand.
Development prospects
The gambling industry in Italy is showing steady growth. Thus, in 2015, the profit from online casinos increased by 31.5%, and in 2016 only poker showed an increase of 7.7% for individual games and 18.6% for tournament games. At the moment, the segment of sports betting is characterized by the most intensive profit growth. For example, in March 2017, Italian bookmakers earned 44.5% more than in the same reporting period in 2016. The growth of online casino profits, in turn, amounted to 30.3%.
In the near future, it makes sense to predict a further increase in the popularity of sports betting among Italian players. The Italian gambling market is of interest to international operators. Such giants as 365bet, 888 and others are already operating in the country. Probably, many world-famous operators are waiting for the expiration period of a 9-year license from already operating companies. The re-licensing procedure will allow to summarize and assess the feasibility of entering the Italian market. The development of the gambling industry in Italy also allows us to predict the emergence of its own large development companies.
Italy has repeatedly played the role of a country that sets a positive example to other states in terms of gambling regulation. This also applies to the opening of the first ever official gambling house, and the creation of a positive precedent for the legalization of online casinos in the EU. Italian laws are equally loyal to both players and operators.
There are two large licensing commissions in the United Kingdom. Here are the offices of gambling software studios - among them such giants as Microgaming and Playtech. The largest gambling conferences are held in London: ICE Totally Gaming, WrB London, SBC Awards. The UK gambling business has good prospects.
- Region
- Europe
- Legal status of gambling
- Regulated
- National regulator
- Ministry of the Interior, together with the Autonomous Administration of State Monopolies (AAMS).
- Regulator website
- Under verification
- Key legislation
- A gambling law passed in 2010, as amended in 2011, which also legalised online gambling.
- Minimum player age
- 18
2. Allowed verticals
What may be offered, and whether it needs a licence.
| Vertical | Status | Licence required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports betting | Permitted with a licence | Yes | — |
| Poker | Permitted with a licence | Yes | Includes tournament games; operators pay 3% of the total amount wagered on poker tournaments. |
| Slots / gaming halls | Permitted with a licence | Yes | Permitted not only in casinos but, with appropriate permission, in other public places. |
| Lottery | Permitted with a licence | Yes | — |
| Bingo | Permitted with a licence | Yes | — |
| Land-based casino | Permitted with a licence | Yes | Casino games are taxed at 20% of gross profit. |
| Online casino | Permitted with a licence | Yes | Italy was the first EU country to officially legalise online casinos, following a European Commission investigation into the prior ban; non-compliant or unlicensed sites are blocked by telecom providers. |
3. Licensing framework
What a licence is, what it costs and what the holder must have in country.
- B2C licensing
- Under verification
- B2B licensing
- Under verification
- Licence term
- Licences are issued for 9 years and take effect approximately 4–6 months after registration.
- Application fee
- A one-time payment of €350,000 for an online casino operator, in addition to a minimum turnover of €1,500,000 and at least 2 years of registered offices in Italy prior to application.
- Annual fee
- A recurring concession fee of €50,000.
- Local presence required
- The applicant must have had registered offices in Italy for the 2 years preceding the application.
- Share capital required
- Under verification
4. Taxation and banking
What the state takes, and whether the money can move.
- Gaming tax (GGR)
- Sports betting and other sweepstakes: 4.5% of gross income. Casinos: 20% of gross profit. Bingo and lotteries: a flat 11%. Poker tournaments: 3% of the total amount wagered by players.
- Corporate income tax
- Under verification
- Tax on player winnings
- Under verification
- Payments
- Under verification
- Banking and payments
- Under verification
5. Technical requirements and compliance
What has to be certified, recorded and kept inside the border.
- Certification and game testing
- Under verification
- Responsible gambling
- Gambling establishments may not be located near schools, churches or hospitals. Online operators must provide technical safeguards to prevent minors from gambling; unlicensed or non-compliant gambling websites are blocked by Italian telecom providers.
- AML regime
- Under verification
- AML and KYC
- Under verification
- Server and data localisation
- Under verification
Take the Italy brief with you
Everything above is on this page and stays on it. The brief is the same material as a dated PDF with the sources listed — something you can forward, attach to a memo or put in front of a board. It arrives by email straight away.
Planning to enter Italy?
A regulatory assessment reads Italy's regime against your own products, licence class and corporate structure, and says what follows for each: what you may offer, what you must hold, what it costs and what will change.
Who wrote this
- Last reviewed
Regulatory Intelligence disclaimer
Information is provided for general regulatory intelligence purposes and should not be treated as legal advice for a specific transaction or business model. Regulatory requirements may change and should be confirmed before market entry or implementation.