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Italy has confirmed that 46 operators have submitted formal bids for its new €7 million online gambling licences, as the country progresses into the final phase of a major regulatory overhaul.
According to the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM), all applicants successfully passed the initial administrative screening by the 1 July 2025 deadline. The list features global gaming giants alongside rising challenger brands, signalling interest in one of Europe’s most valuable gambling markets.
Among the applicants are Flutter’s Betfair, Entain’s Eurobet, Sisal, Snaitech, bet365, LeoVegas (owned by MGM Resorts), and 888 and William Hill from evoke. French operator Winamax, cryptocurrency-focused Stake, and established brand Marathonbet are also in the mix.
Notably, Italy’s two municipal casinos in San Remo and Venice have also submitted applications. All operators are competing for one of 52 new concessions that will cover sportsbook, iGaming, and online bingo, and run until 2034.
New framework targets grey market and boosts oversight
The revised licence structure comes under Legislative Decree 41/2024, which replaces Italy’s previous framework introduced in 2018. The old system offered licences for just €200,000 per operator, a price point now considered outdated given the evolving demands of digital compliance and consumer protection.
Under the new terms, each successful applicant will be required to:
- Pay €7 million upfront
- Host their products under a single .it domain
- Contribute an annual 3% levy on net gaming revenue
- Fund responsible gambling campaigns amounting to 0.2% of GGR
Authorities believe that consolidating activity under fewer, more accountable operators will increase transparency and reduce the risk of unlicensed activity. By limiting each licence to a single domain, Italy aims to shrink the current sprawl of more than 400 active gambling websites, many of which fall into regulatory grey zones.
Fewer operators, higher standards
Industry analysts expect the total number of licensed brands to shrink from the current 88 to around 50 operators once the new system is finalised. Despite this reduction, Italy’s iGaming market is forecast to retain its approximate €5 billion annual Gross Gambling Revenue (GGR), due to the involvement of large-scale operators with deep pockets and established infrastructure.
The higher licensing threshold is widely interpreted as a deliberate move to encourage consolidation and ensure only serious players remain active in the market. This follows similar strategies adopted in other European jurisdictions seeking to tighten gambling oversight.
Evaluation and final awards by autumn
The ADM has already begun the technical evaluation phase, during which applicants will be assessed on their operational capability, regulatory compliance, and IT infrastructure. Later this summer, a financial review will be conducted before final licence awards are made in early autumn.
This timeline gives successful operators sufficient time to transition to the new regime before current concessions expire at the end of 2025. The new structure is intended to provide a decade of regulatory certainty, from 2025 through to 2034.
Broader impact on the European market
Italy’s revamped licensing system could set a precedent for other EU member states considering similar reforms. The combination of higher financial thresholds, strict domain limitations, and enhanced responsible gambling obligations reflects a growing trend toward harmonised regulation across Europe.
As Italian regulators continue to address grey-market leakage and international pressure for greater transparency, the new licensing round is being closely watched by operators, investors, and regulators throughout the region.
The 46 shortlisted applicants now await the next phase, with final decisions expected to shape the face of Italy’s gambling industry for the next decade.
Source: NEXT.io
