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Italy’s Gambling Regulator Receives Over 80 License Applications
Luke Haward, CDC Gaming Reports · March 26, 2018
After a long period of delay, amid speculation that began in earnest last September, the call for new online gambling applications was finally launched by Italy’s regulatory body and customs agency in January. The deadline for applications to be submitted, March 19, has now passed; according to local news coverage, more than 80 submissions had been received by that date.
Each of these applicants must submit a one-off payment of €200,000, so the cost of being involved in such a process at all is certainly steep, which might at least partially explain why the maximum number of 120 applications has not yet been reached. Nevertheless, Italian regulator ADM (Agenzia Dogane e Monopoli) will rake in over €16 million as a consequence. It may be that some operators are being permitted to apply late; this is not entirely clear at the current time, although at least one operator is said to have requested an extension. In time, the gap between this current figure of 80 received and the total allowance of 120 should close somewhat.
Operators who are granted licenses will be able to provide online gambling services until the end of 2022. It is understood that the majority of applicants are thought to be companies already operating within the online gambling sector in Italy who are looking to renew or extend their existing agreements to provide gambling services, as opposed to new contenders.
Still, there are, of course, always a scattering of new would-be operators. Two known to have applied in the current round are online sportsbook providers Marathonbet and Pinnacle, both of whom are looking to expand their offerings into Italy. Companies operating under the Marathonbet brand are licensed in the United Kingdom, Alderney, Spain and Curacao, and Pinnacle, of course, is already one of the larger sportsbook operators across the globe.
The process for reviewing these applications will commence on April 19th, and they will be considered in the order in which they were received. Provided all is in good standing with the companies involved, it looks likely that the vast majority will be granted.
Italian gaming faces an uncertain future given the results of the recent election, with some services likely to keep expanding and others, such as slot machines, looking likely to be stripped back in prominence. Operators new and old alike are understandably keeping at least one ear to the ground to see which way the chips will fall in this new political landscape.
Luke Haward, CDC Gaming Reports · March 26, 2018
After a long period of delay, amid speculation that began in earnest last September, the call for new online gambling applications was finally launched by Italy’s regulatory body and customs agency in January. The deadline for applications to be submitted, March 19, has now passed; according to local news coverage, more than 80 submissions had been received by that date.
Each of these applicants must submit a one-off payment of €200,000, so the cost of being involved in such a process at all is certainly steep, which might at least partially explain why the maximum number of 120 applications has not yet been reached. Nevertheless, Italian regulator ADM (Agenzia Dogane e Monopoli) will rake in over €16 million as a consequence. It may be that some operators are being permitted to apply late; this is not entirely clear at the current time, although at least one operator is said to have requested an extension. In time, the gap between this current figure of 80 received and the total allowance of 120 should close somewhat.
Operators who are granted licenses will be able to provide online gambling services until the end of 2022. It is understood that the majority of applicants are thought to be companies already operating within the online gambling sector in Italy who are looking to renew or extend their existing agreements to provide gambling services, as opposed to new contenders.
Still, there are, of course, always a scattering of new would-be operators. Two known to have applied in the current round are online sportsbook providers Marathonbet and Pinnacle, both of whom are looking to expand their offerings into Italy. Companies operating under the Marathonbet brand are licensed in the United Kingdom, Alderney, Spain and Curacao, and Pinnacle, of course, is already one of the larger sportsbook operators across the globe.
The process for reviewing these applications will commence on April 19th, and they will be considered in the order in which they were received. Provided all is in good standing with the companies involved, it looks likely that the vast majority will be granted.
Italian gaming faces an uncertain future given the results of the recent election, with some services likely to keep expanding and others, such as slot machines, looking likely to be stripped back in prominence. Operators new and old alike are understandably keeping at least one ear to the ground to see which way the chips will fall in this new political landscape.
