Italy poised to cut iGaming by half: a momentous turning point
The wind is changing in the Italian online gaming industry. The Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) has just concluded the call for new concessions, and the numbers speak for themselves: from 93 applications in the last call for new concessions, the number is down to about 50. Translated: it will be reduced from the current 81 operators to only 33.
For some it is a squeeze, for others a breath of fresh air. The logic is simple: fewer, but more robust, technologically advanced operators with higher safety standards. The government is aiming for a more controlled sector that can provide stable revenue and protect players. A choice that, while reducing competition, opens the door to a new era of reliability and quality.
The new entry barrier: 7 million euros
Until yesterday, obtaining a license for online gaming cost “only” 250 thousand euros. Today, the music has changed: the initial fee has risen to 7 million. A jump that has put many smaller operators out of business, leaving the field open for those with broad financial shoulders and a real business plan.
But it’s not just about money. The new rules also impose a 24.5 percent tax on gross sales for bookmakers and 25.5 percent for online casinos, plus an annual contribution of 3 percent of GGR. Rounding out the picture is the requirement to allocate 0.2 percent of revenues (up to a maximum of 1 million) to responsible gaming initiatives. An approach that reshapes the market and tests the resilience of operators.
Player protection: the heart of reform
It’s not just about money and licenses: at the heart of reform is player protection. The government raises the bar on anti-money laundering and user protection, imposing concrete tools on operators to manage time and money spent. Deposit limits, spending limits, time limits, and self-exclusion options will become mandatory standards.
The goal is clear: to prevent harm especially among the most vulnerable groups, such as young adults. This is a paradigm shift, combining technology and social responsibility, transforming gaming from a digital Wild West to a safer and more transparent environment.
Reforms even for physical play: a future to be written
As online races toward modernization, the terrestrial sector is also in the legislature’s crosshairs. Hall licenses, stricter identity checks and uniform standards of protection are on the table. However, tensions with regional authorities have slowed the path, forcing the government to postpone some decisions.
The direction, however, is set: a gaming sector – online and offline – that is more orderly, safer and in line with the expectations of an Italy that looks to the future without forgetting the protection of its citizens. At it-chickenroad.com, we will continue to closely follow every step of this historic transformation.
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