Italy’s regulator anticipates opening a window for online gambling licence applications in December or January.

Italy.- The European Commission (EC) has launched a consultation on the technical rules for Italy’s proposed new framework for regulating online gambling. As is customary for legislative amendments in European Union countries, this process aims to gather feedback on the potential impact of the new regulations.

The initiation of the consultation marks the final phase of the legislative reforms, which are now in a mandatory three-month standstill period until 18 October. This period allows other EU member states and stakeholders to review and provide comments on the proposals.

If the feedback does not raise any major objections, the Italian government plans for the national regulator, the ADM, to open a window for online gambling licence applications in late December 2024 or early January 2025.

The current proposals include a significant increase in the fee for online gambling licences, rising from €200,000 in 2018 to €7 million. The Ministry of Finance has justified this increase by noting the significant changes in the market, which is now dominated by major multinational operators. Licences will be valid for nine years, and operators will also be required to pay 3 per cent of annual gross gaming revenue (GGR).

Technical requirements include the obligation to base IT infrastructure, including cloud solutions, within the European Economic Area (EEA) to comply with EU data protection laws and to ensure secure communication with the state IT provider Sogei. Operators must also adhere to rules regarding the use of self-exclusion tools. Additionally, there will be a ban on affiliated online websites (skins), but separate apps will be permitted for each vertical, including betting, casino games, poker, and bingo.

The ADM submitted documentation outlining the rules to the Treasury following the publication of the framework in the parliamentary gazette in April. The framework will be incorporated into Italy’s Decree on the Reorganisation of Gambling, which currently focuses on the gradual reform of land-based gaming.

Antonio Giuliani, head of ADM’s online office, stated last month: “The Agency will set a D-day for current operators to start collecting bets under the new regime. The others will have up to six months to launch the system, as established by the law. We will guarantee equal conditions for current licensees and new operators who obtain a licence.”