Online Gambling Regulations in Italy

Minutes left

minutes to read

Minutes left

Deni

Verified Casino Expert

Expertise: Casino Content Writing, Journalism & (PR), Gambling Regulations, Dutch & German Gambling Markets

Hi, I'm Deni! I'm a research obsessive with a passion for gambling regulations, market trends, and casino news. I dig deep into every topic I cover - so every article, review, or guide I write is built on solid research and real detail.

Learn about our Review Process

Published: July 12, 2020
Updated: April 2, 2026

Online gambling is one of the most popular pastimes throughout the world. The rules and regulations regarding online gambling have been quite tricky and confusing in most countries. For years, gambling has been frowned upon even in states where it was considered legal.

There are many countries which have chosen to ban gambling online and in land-based casinos from the start. Others have chosen to take advantage of the rising interest and growth of the online industry and to get their share of the revenue pie.

However, it has to be said that no other country has done more than Italy for the development of gambling. In fact, Italian gambling has played a major part in the laws and betting customs created in most of North America and Western Europe. Some even believe the Italians have changed the way people worldwide view gambling.

Online gambling regulations in Italy — Regulations and laws regarding online gambling in Italy

Unfortunately, the problem is that gambling has been cast in a very negative light by Italian citizens, due to the mafia ties related to land-based gambling establishments. Online gambling, on the other hand, might be another story.

In this guide, we aim to understand the gambling laws and regulations regarding online gambling in Italy and how it all started.

History and laws on gambling in Italy

Due to mafia ties, gambling in all its various forms has been slow to catch on in the country. That being said, gambling has been present in Italy for centuries, dating all the way back to the time of the Roman Empire. It is believed that the first gambling house, Ridotto, was opened in Venice in 1638. This casino is believed to be the pioneer of modern casinos. Ridotto had been open to the public but was closed down in the late 18th Century due to attracting the bad that came with society.

Let's look at the important years and what happened:

After Ridotto, many gambling houses and clubs became exclusive and were only made available for the wealthy. Interestingly enough, these gambling clubs were referred to as casinos, which in itself is of Italian origin. Gambling became completely legal in Italy in 2011, but all gambling operators were required to acquire an Italian gambling license if they wanted to operate within the country.
Luckily, the EU stepped in, and the government was forced to amend its online gambling laws in 2009.
As of 2010, foreign operators have been allowed to offer their services to Italian citizens if they successfully obtain an Italian gambling license from the Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS).

Foreign operators are required to meet a number of requirements when applying for this license, which in turn makes it quite difficult for them to enter the Italian online gambling market. One requirement is that the minimum turnover should be at least €3 million in the rest of Europe during the last two years of its existence.

While the Italian government has tried its best to keep online gambling out, the results were not in its favour, and the European Union court ruled that it had to open its market to gambling companies from other European Union nations.

Thanks to this ruling, the Italian government has changed its stance, and as of late 2017, has been working on providing more online gambling licenses to interested operators.
According to news reports, the government plans to issue 50 new licenses in 2025.

Each license is valid for nine years and costs €7 million. Each corporate group can acquire up to five of those to prevent market concentration.

Plus, operators have to pay an annual operating fee of 3% of their gross gambling revenue (GGR), net of gambling taxes, and contribute a mandatory investment of 0.2% of the GGR to responsible gambling (RG) campaigns. The Italian government also allocates significant funds yearly for the prevention and treatment of gambling addiction, as part of its objectives to put RG at the forefront of its efforts.

Other requirements for operators include mandatory self-exclusion tools and self-limitation options provided on their sites. They must also implement features that allow users to block access to their services. Enhanced safeguards are also introduced for young adult players (between the ages of 18 and 24). Those include mandatory monetary and session limits during account registration.

As we can see, Italy is tightening its regulations to suit modern requirements and the industry's dynamic nature. At the same time, the authorities are working hard to make the market more accessible and friendly to all new operators and players. Here's an example:

In 2018, they introduced the Dignity Decree, which imposed a strict ban on all gambling ads and sponsorships. There have been talks that a revision of this policy is in the works to align it with EU standards and stimulate economic benefits.

Are online gambling winnings taxable in Italy?

Yes, gambling winnings are taxable in Italy!

It’s no secret that Italy’s online gambling market is the second largest in Europe. It is projected to reach €13.33 billion in 2025. With more operators being allowed into the country, the industry can be expected to continue to grow more lucrative in the following years.

What about taxes on gambling winnings in Italy?

Italian citizens have to pay 20% taxes on all net winnings (minus the initial stake) above €1,000. These include wins from online casino games and poker to sports betting.
Lottery winnings are the only exception, as they are taxed at 6%. Thus, while players from other countries pay little to no taxes, all winnings over the said amount won in Italy have to be declared and are taxed.

Is online gambling legal in Italy?

Yes, gambling is legal in Italy. It’s amazing to note that gambling has been legal in Italy for quite some time, and while online gambling had a bit of a struggle, it was eventually legalised.

The legalisation wasn’t great at first, as the Italian officials tried extremely hard to keep foreign operators out of the market. Luckily, with the intervention of the EU, Italian citizens have a greater variety of choices in online casinos.

The government is still very strict on illegal or unlicensed operators trying to gain access to its citizens and will take serious steps to prosecute and block any unlicensed ISPs. Thus, it is important to find an online casino that is licensed within the country, to ensure your gameplay won’t get cut short at any point.

Actually, the government recently launched a major reform of its gambling regulations. The first part came into force in November 2025 and covered online gambling, and in particular, heavier rules on licensing, tax regime, and compliance requirements.

The second part will unfold over the entire 2026 and will be focused on land-based gambling, covering slot machines, bingo halls, and video lottery systems.

There are a number of fantastic gambling platforms that have been vetted and reviewed and are fully licensed and regulated within Italy. If you are a new player or just looking for a new place to play, then explore our selection of top-rated online casinos available in the EU.

Each of these has undergone a rigorous testing process to ensure they provide the best service, a wide gaming variety, and heaps of amazing bonuses and promotions. Have fun and gamble responsibly!