Landmark digital gaming overhaul: ADM appoints 46 companies to steer the sector's evolution.

The Italian digital gaming landscape is poised for a significant evolution. The Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) has recently finalized the initial screening phase for granting new licenses. A select group of 46 operators has been approved to proceed, featuring established players like 888 Italy, Betfair Italy, Sisal, William Hill Malta and LeoVegas. This decisive action is strategic: by prioritizing applicants with proven technological robustness and financial stability, the authorities are shaping a more secure, clear, and conscientious marketplace. The directive is unambiguous: the progression of gaming in Italy will favor those entities capable of ensuring superior standards and safeguarding participants.

A pressing schedule for transformation

The clock is now ticking. Existing permits are set to lapse on September 17, 2025, with a brief potential reprieve extending to the month's final day. In parallel, ADM will finalize the technical and financial assessment of chosen firms by July. Successful applicants must then promptly settle the initial concession installment—amounting to 4 million—and demonstrate they hold no less than 3.7 million in liquid assets. Agreements will be inked throughout August and September to prevent any service interruption, ensuring the gaming machines operate without a hitch.

Technology at the center of the new era

The transformation goes beyond paperwork: chosen operators must implement advanced digital platforms that connect with ADM’s protected framework. A six-month adaptation phase is set, aiming for complete deployment by March 2026. In the interim, legacy and upgraded systems will operate side by side, ensuring uninterrupted service for users. Upon completion, firms will be required to submit the final licensing payment—3 million euros—finalizing their formal transition into the modern age of controlled gaming.

Enhanced player safeguards and more rigorous regulatory standards

A central element of the regulatory overhaul involves the administration of player accounts. Customers will gain the ability to migrate their accounts to a different licensed operator, subject to taxation guidelines and with necessary approval. Operators excluded from the new framework must terminate all user accounts by August 17, 2025, returning all deposited funds. Any unclaimed balances after a sixty-day period will be transferred to the State Treasury. Furthermore, operators will be required to submit regular weekly reports detailing account activity and must convert their corporate structure to an S.p.A. prior to securing operating concessions. The objective is unequivocal: fostering a more transparent, secure, and stable marketplace, while continuing to prioritize responsible gaming.