Admin
It’s fascinating to see just how different countries are dealing with the rise of online gambling activities in their country. For some, more lax laws seem to be interesting, for others, it seems that more concrete laws are the way. In the case of Italy, its gambling regulator, the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM), has announced a new requirement for all licensed online gambling operators. It is said that by November 13, 2025, every company must declare and operate under one single official website domain. This is a huge change to the market, as it’s not how things have been done before.
The aim of this is to reduce the number of new gambling operators cropping up and for Italy to have a better idea of the numbers that are currently on the market. However, as with most countries, which you might know from Germany, once the legal forces come in to change things, there is often a rise in black market gaming. Hopefully, this is not the case for Italy.
One License, One Domain
By October 31, 2025, operators must have already submitted their chosen domain name to the ADM, even if that site is already live. Then, by November 13, 2025, all secondary websites and duplicate domains must be taken down with the help of internet service providers.
Temporary redirects will be allowed until the end of the year but only for companies that are part of joint ventures, to ensure a smooth transition for players and avoid disrupting access to legitimate accounts. After December 31, 2025, those redirects will also have to disappear and things will be more final.
The ADM has made it clear that non-compliance won’t be taken lightly. Operators who fail to meet the deadlines could face suspension or, in serious or repeated cases, even lose their licenses altogether. This means that you can expect to see a whole new wave of safer and more reliable sites. Playing on Grazieslot.com was already safe and secure; however, now with these new policies in place, it’s become even more of an authority.
Cutting Down the Number of Websites
The effects of this new rule will be dramatic. Italy currently has over 400 active online gambling sites operating under various brands and sub-licenses. Once the ADM’s changes take full effect, that number will drop significantly, from 407 websites to just 52.
This reduction reflects the regulator’s desire to bring more structure and oversight to the market. The country’s new licensing system, launched as part of a nine-year reform cycle, has already approved 46 operators who collectively hold 52 licenses. Each license costs €7 million and will remain valid for nine years.
Combating Illegal Gambling
Another key goal of this overhaul is tackling Italy’s persistent issue with illegal gambling. The ADM, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and the state-owned tech hub SOGEI, is developing a new “cyber security shield” to help block access to unlicensed gambling sites.
The ADM has made it clear that failing to comply will come with consequences:
- Operators who do not install the software will face fines.
- Businesses that allow repeated or organized access to illegal gambling domains could face steeper penalties.
- Companies caught intentionally enabling access, such as by using closed browsing modes that limit navigation only to gambling sites, may risk criminal charges for illegal betting.
Earlier this month, the ADM ordered the blocking of 23 additional unauthorized gambling domains, bringing Italy’s total number of blacklisted sites to 11,481. Despite this ongoing effort, illegal online gambling still poses a challenge, with the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) estimating around €1 billion in illegal activity in 2023 alone.
Player Protection and Transparency
The ADM’s domain consolidation rule also has a strong player protection focus. By ensuring that each operator can only run one official site, the regulator is making it easier for players to identify legitimate casinos and betting platforms.
This move is expected to:
- Reduce confusion among players who might encounter multiple versions of the same brand.
- Cut down on phishing or scam sites impersonating legitimate operators.
- Strengthen data protection and reduce fraud risk.
- Improve accountability by linking every operator to one traceable domain.
The Broader Context: Italy’s Delayed Gambling Reforms
Italy’s gambling market has been undergoing a major transformation for several years. Initially, a broader reform package was expected to take effect earlier but in June 2025, authorities delayed the process until 2026 to ensure better coordination between regulators, operators and policymakers.
When the new framework is fully in place, it will reshape the landscape of the Italian gambling industry. By limiting licenses and requiring stricter operating standards, Italy aims to build a safer, more regulated online environment while continuing to collect significant tax revenue from the sector.
A More Streamlined Future
The goal of the ADM is to create a more regulated and safer gambling experience for players in Italy. Players should look forward to these changes, as every change toward a safer and more reliable gambling experience is excellent. On the other hand, for the casino operators, it’s true that this might be quite a big change for them. They will have to act fast to make sure they match all the new regulations and policies set up by the ADM but once they have, it’s also smoother sailing for them.
