Europe · IT
Italy
Online gaming in Italy is offered under state concessions awarded by the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM); Banca d'Italia and CONSOB supervise financial services.
At a glance
- Status
- EU member state
- Region
- Europe
- Regulated sectors
- GamingPaymentsCryptoInvestment
- Authorities
- ADM · Banca d'Italia · CONSOB · UIF
- Licensing routes
- 4
- See also
- EU / MiCA
Overview
The framework
Online gaming in Italy is offered under concessions awarded by the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM), which also supervises the market and acts against unauthorised offers. The online gaming concession framework has been reorganised, and operators should plan against the current concession terms.
Banca d'Italia authorises and supervises payment and e-money institutions; CONSOB supervises investment services and markets. Under MiCA, the two authorities share responsibility for crypto-asset services.
Authorities
Who regulates what
- Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM)
- Online gaming concessions and supervision.
- Banca d'Italia
- Banks, payment and e-money institutions, and prudential supervision.
- CONSOB
- Investment services and markets, and crypto-asset services with Banca d'Italia.
- Financial Intelligence Unit for Italy (UIF)
- Suspicious transaction reporting; established at Banca d'Italia.
Regimes
Licensing routes
Online gaming concession
Concession from ADM to offer online gaming to players in Italy.
Sectors: Gaming
Payment / e-money institution
Authorisation by Banca d'Italia, passportable across the EEA.
Sectors: Payments
Investment firm
Authorisation for investment services under Italy's implementation of MiFID II.
Sectors: Investment
MiCA CASP authorisation
Crypto-asset services authorised under MiCA.
Sectors: Crypto
Applications and regulator engagement for these routes are handled by our Regulatory & Licensing practice.
Considerations
What to weigh up
- Access to Italian players requires a concession; hub licences do not provide it.
- Gambling advertising is subject to a broad statutory ban, which shapes marketing and affiliate models.
- Financial licences benefit from EU passporting.
This overview is general information, summarised at a high level. Requirements change and depend on the specific activity; seek advice on your circumstances before acting.
Industries
Relevant industries
- iGaming & GamingB2C operators, B2B suppliers, platforms, aggregators and affiliates.
- Fintech & PaymentsPayment and e-money institutions, PSPs and acquirers, payment facilitators and embedded finance.
- Crypto & Digital AssetsCASPs and VASPs, exchanges, custodians, wallets, token projects and crypto payments.
- Forex & InvestmentsForex and CFD brokers, investment firms, trading and investment platforms.
Across jurisdictions
Cross-jurisdiction capabilities
Services we support across the jurisdictions in our directory, described once on their own pages. How each is delivered depends on the local requirements that apply; where local qualification is required, we coordinate locally qualified counsel.
- Privacy & Data ProtectionPrivacy compliance and GDPR programmes, notices and DPAs, DPIAs, data mapping and ROPA, transfers, audits and breach response.
- AML & Financial Crime ComplianceAML/CFT programmes, MLRO-as-a-Service, independent AML/CFT audits, risk assessments, monitoring, sanctions and inspection support.
- IP Registration & ProtectionTrademark and patent registration and protection, copyright protection, domain name disputes, portfolio support and IP agreements.
- Legal OpinionsRegulatory, business model, perimeter, payment, gaming, crypto-asset and cross-border opinions for banks, partners and investors.
- Bank Account OpeningSupport with corporate and operational accounts at banks and EMIs, prepared for how their compliance teams assess high-risk businesses.
- Merchant Account / Acquiring SetupSupport with merchant account applications and acquiring setup at acquirers and PSPs, including for high-risk merchant categories.
Support
How we support businesses in Italy
- Regulatory & Licensing01Strategy, applications and regulator engagement for the gaming, payments, crypto and investment routes listed above.
- Corporate Structuring02Group architecture, incorporation, substance and governance built around your licences, banking and investors.
- Market Entry & Regulatory Strategy10Market prioritisation, regulatory roadmaps and launch readiness for businesses expanding into new jurisdictions.
- Information Security & Technology Compliance06DORA, NIS2 and the information security obligations that apply under EU law.
Discuss your matter with a senior advisor.
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