The Italian Customs and Monopoly Agency (ADM) announced that the approval deadline for new online gambling concessions has been extended from the originally scheduled September 17, 2025, to November 12. The extension is mainly due to the complexity of the tender process, involving a large amount of documentation and detailed scrutiny under the new regulatory framework, aimed at ensuring a comprehensive assessment of the applicant companies.
According to the tender office, this approval involves 52 license applications from 46 companies. Although the number of applications has decreased from the 81 issued in 2018, the tax revenue generated from last year's licenses reached 365 million euros, exceeding the initial expectations of 300 to 350 million euros.
According to regulations, the approved concessionaires must pay the first license fee of 7 million euros by November 12, obtain ADM approval for the gaming account tracking system, and launch new ".it" certified domains. Successful bidders must submit all relevant documents within 35 days after the concession is granted and launch their platforms within six months.
ADM expects that the annual total revenue (GGR) of the Italian online gambling market will reach 5.5 billion euros by 2026. Notable applicants include Flutter Entertainment and Lottomatica, both of which have successfully obtained five licenses. Additionally, Novomatic, Eurobet, Stake, DAZN Bet, Marathonbet, Winamax, William Hill, 888, Betsson, bet365, Stanleybet, and LeoVegas are also among the licensed companies.
The next phase of work will take place from November 2023 to March 2026, covering system integration testing, large-scale account migration, cybersecurity audits, and the official launch of the new regulatory regime, at which time the second payment will be made by the winners.
Furthermore, under the new regulatory framework, ADM has introduced several advanced player protection measures, including a one-click pause feature, customizable spending limits, real-time reminders of betting amounts and gaming duration, and transparency requirements for free spin bonus rules.
Meanwhile, the Italian Minister of Sports, Andrea Abodi, has submitted a draft sports decree aimed at revitalizing sports through upgrading sports infrastructure and introducing new business models. The bill may also restore gambling sponsorship activities, previously banned by the 2018 Dignity Decree.
Overall, ADM's extension of the approval deadline not only reflects strict scrutiny of applicant companies but also demonstrates the Italian government's multiple efforts in regulating the market, safeguarding player rights, and promoting the development of the sports industry.
