Online gaming: the new licensing regime begins today.

Today, Thursday, November 13, 2025, the new remote gaming licensing regime in Italy officially begins, marking a key milestone in the reorganization of the public online gaming sector envisaged by Legislative Decree No. 41/2024.

At midnight, the previous licenses expired and new ones, issued by the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM), became effective. The aim is to strengthen transparency, security, and player protection.

The new regime – A total of 52 concessions were awarded to 46 operators , 33 of which were Italian and 13 foreign. This result exceeds the threshold of 50 concessions set by the technical report attached to Legislative Decree 41/2024, generating an increase in tax revenue. The tender generated €364 million in direct revenue from concession fees alone. Specifically, the additional revenue amounted to €14 million, resulting from an extraordinary contribution of €7 million for each of the two concessions exceeding the established limit.

Numbers that matter – The online gaming sector now plays a central role in the Italian public gaming market. In 2024, a total volume of approximately €92,1 billion was wagered online , with €87 billion returned in winnings. Actual spending—the difference between wagers and winnings—was approximately €5,1 billion (€5.072.360.538,58). The growth of the entire online sector can be explained almost entirely (95%) by three types of games: online slots, card games organized in non-tournament formats, and sports-based games. These numbers confirm the importance of the digital sector to the sector's economy, making the launch of the new licensing regime aimed at ensuring sustainability, legality, and innovation even more significant.

Gaming Accounts – In this context, the ADM has issued a directorial resolution introducing important innovations regarding the opening of online gaming accounts, implementing Legislative Decree No. 41 of March 25, 2024, and Tax Delegated Law No. 111/2023. The measure establishes that from now on, opening a gaming account can be done not only by submitting identity documents, but also through digital identification tools with at least level two security, such as SPID and Electronic Identity Card (CIE).

Authorized dealers will therefore be able to identify new users either through the traditional acquisition of a copy of their ID and tax code, or through SPID or CIE, in full compliance with the principles of the Digital Administration Code (Legislative Decree 82/2005). This innovation represents a significant step towards simplifying registration procedures while also increasing the certainty of player identity. When using digital identity, dealers will be required to collect a minimum set of information—including personal details, residence, tax code, ID details, contact details, and the digital identity's expiration date—while always ensuring full compliance with personal data protection regulations and the provisions of the concession agreement.

Skins – Another significant change concerns the end of the so-called "skins" system , i.e., sites linked to the licensees' main domains. In a circular sent to operators, the ADM has established that starting today, November 13, 2025, each licensee will only be able to offer bets through a single official website. All secondary or affiliated domains must be deactivated, with the removal of content and redirects, and their inaccessibility must also be verified through network providers (ISPs). A temporary exemption is provided only for Temporary Business Groupings (RTI), which will be able to maintain redirects until December 31, 2025. The Agency emphasizes that compliance with this provision will be subject to strict controls, and any violations may result in penalties up to and including the termination of the license. This measure, while expected, is sparking debate in the industry due to its potential employment implications, given that many operators employ staff dedicated to the management, marketing, and support of the various brands now slated for closure.

A critical step in the transition involves the closure of skins , the sites affiliated with the main licensees. The extremely tight deadlines for deactivating and migrating domains make the process technically feasible, but complex from a practical, commercial, and social perspective. Migrating players to the main brand can lead to confusion, overlapping points of sale, loss of control over customer accounts, and uncertainty in commission management.

Behind every PVR and every skin are consolidated networks and trained personnel, and without clear rules, the risk is commercial disruption that penalizes both retailers and players. More gradual management, with tools to safeguard networks and player accounts, could have reduced these risks, ensuring operational continuity and protecting the legal market.

PVR – A key issue in the transition concerns Recharge Points of Sale (PVR) and the difficulties associated with payments and registration. Currently, the obligation to register and pay the annual fee remain suspended, pending a court decision. The next step is the hearing on the merits before the Council of State, scheduled for December 11, 2025, when the legitimacy of the register and its implementation procedures will be examined. Until then, PVRs must proceed with caution, preparing for possible scenarios and adjustments to ensure operational continuity and compliance.

Affiliate Programs – Affiliate sites will continue to operate, but with stricter rules and greater oversight. They will be required to interface exclusively with the licensee's official domain and comply with the standards established by the ADM for player and commission traceability.

The transition to the new regime – Over the next six months, the transition to the new licensing regime for online gaming in Italy will follow a clear sequence of steps:

1. Termination of existing concessions (November 13, 2025) – All old remote gaming licences will cease to be valid, and operators must stop collecting bets on platforms that do not comply with the new scheme.
2. Activation of new dealers – The 46 operators awarded the 52 concessions will begin operating through their single official website, ensuring continuity of services and compliance with the new technical and regulatory rules.
3. Technical and regulatory adaptation – Licensees must update their platforms to ensure the correct opening of gaming accounts, digital identification of users via SPID or CIE, traceability of bets, and compliance with personal data protection regulations.
4. Account migration and skin closure – Users of previous operators must be transferred to the new gaming account holders, while all secondary sites ("skins") must be deactivated, with content removed and verification of inaccessibility, including via network providers, except for some temporary exemptions for temporary consortiums (RTI) until December 31, 2025.
5. ADM Verification and Controls The Customs and Monopolies Agency will conduct ongoing checks to ensure compliance with the new regime; any violations may result in severe penalties, including suspension of collection or revocation of the concession.

This gradual process ensures that the online gaming market transitions to the new regime in an orderly, safe, and transparent manner, safeguarding both operators and players.

Below is a list of the new dealers who, starting today, will be the only ones authorized to offer online gaming in Italy.

PressGames