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The Italian gambling licence tender has reached a decisive moment on 17 September 2025 when the Italian gambling authority, the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) officially admitted 46 operators to Stage 2 of the online gambling licence application process.
This step represents a major milestone for Italy’s new online gambling market, but it is not the end of the journey: operators must now meet strict documentation and compliance requirements before their new concessions become fully effective.
The Stage 2 Approval
According to ADM’s determination, all 46 applicants that submitted bids before the 30 May 2025 deadline have been admitted. The Commission in charge verified that each application complied with the tender rules and that the operators met the minimum eligibility criteria.
The Stage 2 approval confirms the assignment of concessions for the online gambling verticals covered by Article 6 of Legislative Decree No. 41/2024, including online casino games, poker, bingo, and sports betting.
What Happens Next
Stage 2 approval is not the end of the process. Under ADM’s rules, the following steps are crucial:
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Documentation Deadline: Approved operators must submit the required documentation within 35 days of the award publication. This includes corporate, financial, and compliance paperwork listed in the administrative rules.
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Anti-Mafia Checks: Operators remain subject to the controls under Legislative Decree No. 159/2011, the so-called “Anti-Mafia Code”.
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Licence Execution: Only once these verifications are complete and the documentation approved will the licence agreements be signed and operators formally recognised as new concessionaires.
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Go-Live Period: Concessionaires will have up to six months to activate their platforms under the new regime, expected to be operational by March 2026.
Licence Fees and Duration
The financial structure of the new Italian online gambling licences is significant:
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Each licence costs € 7 million per vertical, payable in two instalments:
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€ 4 million upfront at award stage;
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€ 3 million upon actual commencement of the gaming service by the concessionaire, to be activated no later than six months after the concession is granted;
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The licences will last for nine years, a notably longer period compared to the previous framework.
This cost structure, combined with ongoing tax obligations (24.5% on betting GGR, 25.5% on casino GGR, plus a 3% NGR annual fee), sets a high entry bar that will inevitably reshape the market.
Impact on Existing Operators
For operators that did not apply for a new licence, the transition rules are equally important:
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Their concessions will expire on 18 September 2025, unless they requested an extension by 5 September 2025.
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With an extension, they may continue operations only until 12 November 2025, at which point the old framework ends.
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They are also required to either close accounts or migrate player databases to operators approved in the new tender, following ADM’s guidance and ensuring compliance with GDPR and consumer protection standards.
This migration mechanism offers approved concessionaires a unique growth opportunity, as they may acquire entire player bases from operators leaving the Italian market. Read more (Italian Online Gambling License: A Unique Opportunity to Acquire Player Databases Before November 2025).
Market Outlook
The Stage 2 approvals mark the beginning of a new era for the Italian online gambling market:
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Consolidation is inevitable: with only 52 licences awarded to 46 operators, fragmentation will reduce, and stronger brands are likely to capture greater market share.
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Compliance and investment requirements are substantial, which may deter smaller operators but also increase the credibility of the market as a whole.
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Player protection remains central: ADM has confirmed obligations such as mandatory funding for responsible gambling campaigns (0.2% of GGR, capped at €1 million per year).
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Strategic opportunities are open for operators that can leverage player migrations, build local partnerships, and adapt quickly to ADM’s technical and reporting standards.
Key Deadlines to Remember
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17 September 2025: ADM publishes the Stage 2 approval list.
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Within 35 days of publication: Approved operators must submit all required documentation.
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12 November 2025: Extended concessions for non-applicants expire; account migrations must be completed.
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By March 2026: Expected go-live of new platforms under the reformed licence regime.
Are operators ready for the next steps?
The approval of 46 operators at Stage 2 of the Italian gambling licence tender is a turning point. While the process is far from complete, the foundations are now set for the relaunch of Italy’s online gambling industry under a modernised, nine-year framework.
For operators, the coming months are critical. Documentation, compliance checks, and migration strategies must be handled with precision — because missing a deadline now could mean missing out on one of Europe’s most valuable online gambling markets.
Feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss the above. On a similar topic, you can read the article “New Italian Guidelines for Certification in Online Gambling: Key Changes and Open Questions“. Also, you can have an outline on the Italian gambling law regime in DLA Piper’s Gambling Laws of the World Guide available HERE and access further gambling law news HERE.