Forget spaghetti and calcio for a minute—Italy just served the gambling world a spicy new licensing regime that’s turning heads across Europe. In a bold regulatory shake-up, the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) has granted 46 online gambling licences for 2025–2026, but only to operators who could cough up the new piatto forte: €7 million per licence.
That’s not a typo—thirty-five times the previous fee. As ADM’s regulatory capo Marco Bellini put it, “If you wanna play in the Italian market, you better show you’ve got the sauce.” The move has already filled state coffers with over €322 million, and it’s just getting started.
But this ain’t just about money. The new framework limits active domains to 50 (from over 400), slamming the door on the days of fly-by-night bookies and shadowy white labels. “We’re going for quality over quantity,” Bellini added, “and yes, that means fewer seats at the table.”
Ciao, Reform: Italy Hits Pause on Land-Based Gambling Overhaul Until 2026
Operators had to pay upfront—€4 million now, €3 million before March 2026—in what’s shaping up to be Italy’s most ambitious digital gambling reform to date. The current licences all expire by September 2025, so if you didn’t get a seat at the new table? Arrivederci, baby.
Industry reaction? Mixed, of course. The big brands are in. The small fish? They’re out looking for new waters—or a generous investor. But one thing’s for sure: Italy just sent a loud message to Europe that it’s done playing small ball when it comes to online gaming. And with a digital market pulling nearly €5 billion in GGR, you can bet your last cannoli this is just the antipasto.
