Italy: legal challenges over igaming licence extensions

The country’s customs and monopolies agency could face a string of legal battles if licences are not extended.

Italy.- ADM, Italy’s customs and monopolies agency, could face legal challenges from international igaming operators if the government fails to provide reassurances on licence extensions. 

The Italian Senate has refused to review two appeals to extend online betting, casino and bingo concessions for 18 months to December 2022, provoking uncertainty for around 30 online operators whose licences are to expire by the end of the year. 

Administrative courts in Lazio have already accepted legal cases filed against the ADM by SportPesa, Betway and Nexigames.

The courts have ruled that the operators will retain their licences up until the date of a public hearing, which it has set for November 4.

Representing SportPesa, the law firm Tonucci & Partners had filed an injunction against the ADM in a bid to prevent the agency from withdrawing the operator’s licence, which is due to expire at the end of this month.

SportPesa is one of the newest operators in the market, having gained a sports betting licence in 2017 after acquiring a stake in Italian news publisher RS Italia’s RCS Gaming division.

Italian online gaming revenue increased by 25.4 per cent year-on-year in September. The government is also facing calls to clarify the scope of the country’s new temporary turnover tax on sports betting.