SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The launch of Italy’s new framework for online gambling concessions has entered its final legislative procedure under the supervision of the European Commission (EC).
Recent proceedings saw the EC launch an open consultation on the technical rules of Italy’s new gambling licensing regime.
As a member of the European Union (EU), Italy must notify the EC of any legislative projects and amendments that modify its domestic market and competition rules.
While gambling laws and practices are under the jurisdiction of individual EU member states, the EC’s consultation aims to gather feedback on how the new licensing regime will impact Italy’s IT sector.
The licensing regime has now entered a three-month mandatory “standstill” period, allowing EU member states and other stakeholders to review and comment on the proposed changes.
The standstill period for the Italian gambling licence technical rules ends on 18 October 2024. After this, the Italian government plans to launch the tender for new remote gambling licences, likely in late December 2024 or early January 2025.
Once the standstill period ends and if there are no significant objections or required changes, ADM, Italy’s Agency of Customs and Monopolies, will launch the new licensing regime.
The Ministry of the Economy and Finance (MEF) has set the price for each new online gambling licence at €7m, and valid for nine year period.
The technical rules define the performance, functions, and technical requirements that licensees must follow to operate and manage remote gambling services.
Operators must ensure secure communication with Sogei, the state’s IT service provider.
All gambling platforms must base their IT infrastructure, including cloud solutions, within the European Economic Area (EEA) to comply with EU data protection laws.
The new rules also enforce strict measures to prevent gambling addiction, including mandatory self-exclusion tools, self-limitation options, and features that allow users to block themselves from gambling.
The rules address operators providing services to other concessionaires and confirm a ban on ‘affiliated online websites’ or “skins.” However, ADM licences will allow separate apps for each game type, including betting, casino games, poker, and bingo.
This new licensing framework marks the completion of the first phase of the Gambling Reorganisation Decree—the first regulatory assessment of Italian gambling since online gambling was legalised in 2011.
The Reorganisation Decree will continue with the government’s planned overhaul of land-based gambling laws and protections across Italy’s 20 autonomous regions and 100 municipalities.
