ADM has just selected the 46 operators who will take part in the next licensing phase. This is an important decision for players in the sector and for the Italian regulatory ecosystem.
The Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM), the Italian gaming regulator, has published the official list of the 46 companies admitted to the next phase of the process for issuing new online gaming and betting licences. This announcement comes after careful examination of the applicants’ administrative files, in accordance with Legislative Decree no. 41 of 25 March 2024.
This initial administrative screening, governed by Article 13 of the Rules of Procedure, involved a rigorous verification process, including requests for clarification sent to applicants. Those who met all the documentary requirements now move on to the technical phase of the tender process.
46 qualified candidates, big names in the running
The list published in alphabetical order includes some of the giants of the sector, confirming the continuing attractiveness of the Italian market despite the stricter conditions. The companies selected include:
- 888 Italia Ltd
- Betfair Italia S.r.l.
- Eurobet Italia S.R.L. Unipersonale
- LeoVegas Gaming PLC
- Sisal Italia S.p.A.
- SnaiTech S.p.A.
- Stake Italy S.r.l.
- Tombola International Malta PLC
- William Hill Malta PLC
- Winamax SA
Well-established players such as Betsson, Admiral Sport, Winamax, Marathonbet and Greube complete this list of 46 operators, marking a balance between traditional leaders and new entrants wishing to establish themselves on a long-term basis in a regulated market.
Stricter conditions, high cost of entry
The number of successful applicants is significantly lower than in the previous procedure in 2018, when 93 applications were submitted and 81 approved. This is largely due to the drastically increased cost of entry: each licence now costs €7 million, compared with just €200,000 previously.
But the financial constraints don’t stop there. The new regime also includes:
- A gross gaming revenue (GGR) tax of 24.5% for online sports betting and 25.5% for online casino games.
- An annual fee of 3% of GGR.
- The obligation to devote 0.2% of GGR to responsible gaming campaigns, capped at €1 million.
Next stage: award of licences in September
The procedure continues with a technical evaluation of the bids. Once this phase is complete, ADM plans to officially award the licences in September 2025. Operators will then have six months to launch their services if they wish to remain active on the market.
To ease the transition, however, ADM is allowing current licence holders to continue operating until March 2026. After that date, only companies holding the new licences will be able to operate legally.
Towards stronger, more protective regulation
In addition to the selection process, this reform marks a profound change in the Italian regulatory model, which has been in force since 2006. ADM’s stated aim is to guarantee a safer, more regulated market, while maintaining a high level of channelling towards legal offers.