Online gambling license: Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli

The broad objectives of Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli, with regard to gambling, entail the licensing and oversight of betting operators. In a similar manner, it is also accountable for undertaking actions against illicit gambling, formulating penalties, and even obstructing the operations of certain illegal websites within Italy through blocking measures.

Incorporating various other tasks, the ADM, unlike most online gaming licensing bodies, serves not only as the sole regulator of games but also performs other roles related to customs services management.

Until a few decades ago, gambling was completely illegal in Italy. However, in the 2000s, there was a gradual process of legalization.

• 2004: Legalization of lottery games and instant lotteries. scratch cards ).
• 2005: The legalization of bingo and lottery games.
• 2006: The legalization of strategy-based card tournaments, such as poker.
• 2011: Legalization of other casino games.

Sports betting is also legalized by ADM, and only they have the authority to license this type of wager. Unlicensed gaming operators, in other words, those operating illegally, face the possibility of fines and penalties, even for their users. The power to grant licenses for such bets rests solely with ADM. Those who choose to operate outside the confines of the law risk severe consequences, including financial repercussions and legal ramifications for their patrons.

In 2006, the Italian gaming market opened its doors to operators from the European Union and the European Free Trade Association, albeit with certain regulations in place. Concurrently, the gradual legalization of online gaming services began, starting from 2006, with the legalization of games of chance themselves.

In 2010, strict regulations preventing Italian citizens from accessing European online casino websites were overturned. However, before operators could offer their games to Italians, they had to obtain a license issued by the former regulatory body, the Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS).

Today, the exclusive responsibility for both online gaming licenses and licenses for physical casinos lies with the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli. Throughout Italy, there are only four licensed physical casinos. These licenses may encompass various forms of gambling, such as bingo, poker, poker tournaments, sports betting, and other types of online betting.

Only companies (legal entities) are eligible to apply for a license from the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli. Individuals are not permitted to do so. There is no requirement for the company and its servers to be located in Italy, but they must be based in one of the member countries of the European Economic Area.

In Italy, only operators are required to hold a license. Other operators involved in gambling activities, such as those offering testing and payment services, are not currently required to obtain a license. However, it is worth noting that all software and gaming providers must be certified and comply with the standards imposed by the ADM.

In order to be eligible for a license, the company must meet certain requirements and be deemed suitable. These requirements encompass technical, financial, and social aspects, among others. The licensing process, overseen by the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli, will determine whether the applying company fulfills the following criteria:

1. Having operated in the European gaming market and generating a revenue of one and a half million euros or more in the past two years.
2. Operating at a high technical level, providing secure, stable, and user-friendly services.
3. Having your operational base within a European Union member country.
4. Paying the fee to the administration of the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli, among others.

The Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli can issue a maximum of 120 licenses. In early 2018, the ADM granted 80 new licenses to fresh casino operators, in addition to extending existing licenses. As a result, one can anticipate a substantial increase in the number of gambling websites and licensed casinos under the jurisdiction of the ADM throughout the year. These new licenses will remain valid until the end of 2025.

Italy is not among the top destinations for gaming companies to set up shop, as there are other countries that provide greater fiscal incentives. The taxation rate stands at 20% for skill-based games (including poker tournaments), casino games, and bingo. The rate increases to 22% for sports betting websites.

The issuance of various types of online gaming licenses falls under the responsibility of ADM. Over the years, the previously issued licenses have been extended to cover gradually legalized games. These licenses encompass a range of activities, including:

• Lotto games and lottery games.
• Card games, such as poker, and fixed odds gambling games.
• Sports event-based games and horse racing games.

For licenses issued from 2018 onwards, each gambling game is subject to individual evaluation, and operators must adhere to specific rules and standards to obtain it. In this regard, operators must apply for all the games they wish to offer on their website.

In 2018, the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli introduced a comprehensive registry for self-exclusion from online gambling and casino websites. The primary focus of this undertaking is to safeguard individuals struggling with gambling addiction, as well as those who may be veering down that perilous path.

Henceforth, from this point onward, whenever a player chooses to self-exclude from the gambling website, they can do so through the use of a singular registration, rendering it impossible for them to seek out other sites in order to continue their betting endeavors. In other words, they will be barred from creating an account on any online casinos operating in Italy. This tool presents a fantastic concept, yet it is not the sole player protection solution currently in effect.

The ADM strictly enforces responsible gambling regulations and player protection standards, which all licensed websites must adhere to without fail. One of these regulations, implemented since 2018, is to ensure the ease of player exclusion. Naturally, it is imperative to prohibit underage individuals from accessing gambling and betting activities.

Furthermore, Italy is the pioneer in implementing a mandatory minimum percentage of return to players, which varies from game to game. Skill-based tournaments are required to have an RTP of at least 88.58%. Skill-based games must maintain a minimum RTP of 97.45%. As for casino games, they are obligated to offer a minimum RTP of 97.03%.

The team at gambling-world has been evaluating various online casinos and gambling sites that accept South African players since 2017. Our assessments are highly detailed and presented from an unbiased perspective, that is, written by players for players. You can find all of them available in English on the top menu of the page.

In addition to casino reviews and gambling websites, we also develop online gaming manuals that can be helpful for novice players. These manuals provide access to the rules of each game, specific strategies, and the top websites for betting or simply playing for fun.

Moreover, we discuss responsible gambling, offer free games, evaluate games and game providers, and examine the future of online casino legalization in South Africa.

Check out below all the casinos licensed by Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli that have already been reviewed by our team. Feel free to click on each one of them to access our comprehensive review and discover all the details you need before making your betting choice.