Italy Launches a New Era of Online Gambling: What a €7 Million Licence Means

In 2024, Italy approved a new online gambling licensing framework. The cost of a single licence is €7 million, with a validity period of 9 years. In addition, operators must pay 3% of their gross gaming revenue annually, within the established limit. For the market, this represents the most significant change in recent years.

Previously, market entry costs were substantially lower, allowing hundreds of brands to operate in the country. The new system is designed for companies with significant capital resources, solid financial reporting, and their own technical infrastructure. Oversight remains under ADM — Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli, Italy’s national gambling regulator.

Following the reform, many players have started comparing licensed casino offerings more carefully. Analysts at rollingslots-italia.com have also reviewed the changes and noted that the primary impact may not be on the games themselves, but rather on market structure, bonus policies, and user verification requirements.

For operators, the new licence represents an investment commitment of at least nine years. For players, it means a lower likelihood of short-lived projects entering the market and stricter reliability requirements for gambling websites.

How the New Rules Will Change the Italian and European Markets

As of 2025, 46 operators have been approved under the new licensing phase. Just a few years ago, the number of active brands in the market was measured in the hundreds. This difference clearly illustrates the direction of the reform.

Some companies will choose not to participate because of the high licensing cost. Others may merge with larger groups. As a result, the market could become less fragmented.

For players, the changes will be visible in three key areas: fewer new brands, stricter registration procedures, and more standardised promotional offers. Some operators have already begun revising their welcome offer structures, including formats such as the Rollingslots bonus.

Similar developments are taking place across other EU countries, where regulators are strengthening requirements related to capital reserves, AML controls, and customer protection.

Who Benefits from the Reform and Why Major Brands Are Becoming Stronger

The main beneficiaries of the reform are international groups with substantial financial reserves. For a company generating billions in turnover, a €7 million investment has a very different impact than it does for a smaller independent brand.

In 2025, 46 operators received preliminary approval. This figure alone highlights the future concentration of the market. The fewer participants there are, the larger the share of traffic and gaming revenue controlled by the biggest companies.

Large groups also gain additional advantages. They can invest in localisation, mobile applications, payment infrastructure, security systems, and 24/7 customer support. At the same time, compliance requirements regarding taxation and regulation continue to increase.

Table: Comparison of the Previous and New Licensing Models

In practice, this creates conditions under which the market share of major operators is likely to increase gradually. This is why players are increasingly evaluating not only bonuses but also brand reliability, payout history, and transparency of terms and conditions. Large licensed projects such as Rollingslots are often included in these comparisons.

What Players in Italy Should Do Now

Following the reform, the primary selection criterion should be possession of a valid ADM licence. Verifying a licence takes only a few minutes and helps determine whether an operator is operating within the regulated market.

The second factor is the KYC (Know Your Customer) process. In most cases, players will need to provide proof of identity and proof of residential address.

The third factor is compliance with AML regulations. These anti-money laundering measures may require operators to request additional information regarding the source of funds when large transactions are involved.

When registering through Rollingslots login or any other licensed platform, players should review withdrawal limits, document verification timelines, and the list of supported payment methods in advance.

What Will Happen to the Illegal Market After the Reform

A high entry threshold always creates an interesting side effect. Some smaller companies leave the regulated sector, while a portion of the audience begins looking for alternative options.

For this reason, the illegal market is unlikely to disappear completely in the coming years. However, its opportunities may shrink due to stronger blocking measures, financial monitoring, and cooperation among European regulators.

ADM regularly updates its lists of prohibited websites. At the same time, banks and payment providers continue to strengthen oversight of transactions linked to unlicensed platforms.

Table: Key Market Characteristics After the Reform

For users, the main advantage remains playing at a legal casino operating within a regulated framework and complying with national legislation.

What This Situation Resembles and Lessons Already Seen in the Industry

Over the past decade, similar developments have occurred in several regulated European markets. Following stricter licensing requirements, three stages have typically emerged: a reduction in the number of brands, market consolidation, and a subsequent increase in the market share of major operators.

A similar pattern was observed after regulatory tightening in several Northern European countries. During the first two years, the number of operators declined, while investments in payment security and user data protection increased.

For players, the consequences are often reflected in changing bonus strategies. Instead of a large number of aggressive promotions, the market gradually shifts towards more standardised offers. As a result, many users today examine not only bonus amounts but also Rollingslots review content, brand history, withdrawal speeds, and customer support quality.

An additional effect is the increase in compliance-related costs for operators. The higher the costs of licensing and regulatory oversight, the more attention companies devote to customer retention, mobile service development, and improvements to the overall user experience.

Who Will Be Stronger by 2030 and What the Market Could Look Like

By 2030, Italy’s gambling market may become one of the most concentrated among major European jurisdictions. The majority of traffic will likely be controlled by international groups with substantial investment capabilities.

Companies with proprietary technological infrastructure, strong mobile products, advanced responsible gambling tools, and a solid reputation among users are expected to hold the strongest positions.

For players, this means more predictable casino operations, higher security standards, and consistent service quality across the industry. Real user reviews, payout statistics, and Rollingslots testimonials are likely to become increasingly important, rather than bonus sizes alone.

Italy remains one of Europe’s largest regulated gambling markets. As a result, the decisions being made today may influence the development of the entire European casino market over the next five to ten years. Further industry changes and new regulatory initiatives will continue to be closely monitored by both operators and players across Europe.