Italian regulator extends sports betting concessions

The Italian regulator the ADM has extended sports betting concessions until October 31.

Italy.- The Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) has said that Italy’s sports betting concessions will be extended until October 31.

It said the Ministry of the Economy had applied a late reprieve on betting licences, which were due to expire at the end of June.

Licences came close to expiring without being renewed after last year the then prime minister Giuseppe Conte’s government told the ADM not to take any action on business concessions while the government’s Cura Decree on economic relief measures to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic remained in force.

The ADM said it has begun reviewing concessions for 10,000 retail venues, impacting franchisees belonging to Snaitech, Lottomatica, Sisal, SKS365 and Eurobet.

Proposed cull of Italian gambling licences

Italian media has reported that due to its tight schedule, the ADM may delay the launch of its new tender for online gambling licence renewals, which was due to begin in June.

The process, which will issue licences to run from 2023, has caused controversy since the proposal is to reduce the number of licences from 82 to 40 under a new auction system with much higher fees.

The European Gaming & Betting Association (EGBA) has called on the ADM to explain its reasons to the European Commission in order to check it complies with European business and competition rules. 

Treasury undersecretary Claudio Durigon said in a statement reported by Agipronews said: “The Italian budget law provided for the award of only 40 licenses with a minimum bidding price of €2.5m, even if currently there are 82 operational concessionaires.

“In the previous tender, the number of awarded licenses was much higher (120) and the price for the licence was €200,000 for a 4-year license.”

Online gambling revenue in Italy has increased significantly in the last year.

Meanwhile, gaming operators and associations have responded to the ADM’s proposed reforms to land-based gaming in Italy.

The proposed reforms include introducing separate gaming rooms in bars for slot machines and a change in the designation of class horse racing and sports betting agencies, VLT halls and bingo halls as gaming halls.