Online casino licence cost in Italy (2026)
Italy awards online gaming concessions by tender. Each concession costs €7 million, runs for 9 years and covers both betting and casino, plus an annual fee of 3% of net margin. Gaming tax is 25.5% of gross gaming revenue for online casino and 24.5% for online betting. The 2025 tender is closed, so no concessions can be applied for at the moment.
Figures checked against official sources on 20 October 2026
€7,000,000 per concession (by tender; none open now)
3% of net margin
25.5% of GGR (casino) / 24.5% (betting)
Licence types
Online gaming concession (gioco a distanza)
Online betting, online casino, poker and skill games and bingo. A company or group can hold at most 5 concessions. Duration: 9 years, not renewable.
ADM fees
| Fee | Amount | Charged on | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concession fee | €7,000,000 | One-off per concession: €4 million on award and €3 million when the service starts | D.Lgs. 41/2024, Gazzetta Ufficiale |
| Annual concession fee | 3% of net margin | Per year, on stakes minus winnings and gaming taxes, paid in two halves (16 January and 16 July) | D.Lgs. 41/2024, Gazzetta Ufficiale |
| Responsible-gaming spend | 0.2% of net revenues | Per year, capped at €1,000,000, spent by the operator on responsible-gaming campaigns | D.Lgs. 41/2024, Gazzetta Ufficiale |
| Bid guarantee | €750,000 | Provisional guarantee submitted with the tender bid | ADM: Regole amministrative (online gaming tender) |
Gaming tax
25.5%
Online casino, poker and skill games, online bingo: Gross gaming revenue (from 1 January 2025).
24.5%
Online sports and virtual-event betting: Gross gaming revenue (from 1 January 2025).
Requirements that affect the cost
- Local entity or representative
- A company with its registered office in the EEA; no Italian company is needed. Bidders must have operated licensed gaming in the EEA with at least €3 million in revenue over the last two financial years.Source: ADM: Regole amministrative (online gaming tender)
- Ongoing guarantee
- €500,000 plus 8% of the previous year's tax and fee, plus 8% of average player-account balances (10% of the tender's stated value in the year of signing).Source: ADM: Draft concession agreement (corrected 14 January 2025)
- When you can apply
- Only in a tender. The 2025 tender awarded 52 concessions to 46 operators; no new tender is open.Source: ADM: Award decision of 17 September 2025
How to apply: ADM: Regole amministrative (online gaming tender)
Other costs to budget for
The licence and tax are only part of a launch budget. These costs vary too much by operator to give official figures, but every plan for Italy should account for them:
- Legal and licensing advisers for the application and ongoing compliance.
- Gaming platform and game content (B2B suppliers, often certified per market).
- Testing and certification of games and systems by an approved testing lab.
- Payments, identity verification (KYC) and responsible-gambling tooling.
- Local staff or a local representative, where the regulator requires one.
- Player acquisition: media, creative and affiliate costs within the market's advertising rules.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an online casino licence cost in Italy?
ADM application fee: €7,000,000 per concession (by tender; none open now). Annual fee: 3% of net margin. Gaming tax: 25.5% of GGR (casino) / 24.5% (betting). Platform, legal, testing and marketing costs come on top and vary by operator.
What is the online gambling tax in Italy?
25.5% for online casino, poker and skill games, online bingo, charged on gross gaming revenue (from 1 January 2025). 24.5% for online sports and virtual-event betting, charged on gross gaming revenue (from 1 January 2025).
How long is a ADM licence valid?
Online gaming concession (gioco a distanza): 9 years, not renewable.
Do you need a local company or representative in Italy?
A company with its registered office in the EEA; no Italian company is needed. Bidders must have operated licensed gaming in the EEA with at least €3 million in revenue over the last two financial years.
Planning a launch in Italy?
Once the licence is in place, we plan and run compliant display, video and DOOH campaigns in Italy, gated on licence, market and age before every bid.
Get a media planSources
- ADM: Regole amministrative (online gaming tender)
- D.Lgs. 41/2024, Gazzetta Ufficiale
- Camera dei deputati: Budget Law 2025 dossier
- ADM: Draft concession agreement (corrected 14 January 2025)
- ADM: Award decision of 17 September 2025
Figures are copied from official sources as published on the date shown and may change. This page is general information for planning, not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm current fees and requirements with Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli and your advisers before applying.