Italy jurisdictions

Described as an iGaming market that manages to maintain a balance between innovation and entertainment, Italy is widely known as one of the most respected jurisdictions. Its interactive market has so far attracted a large number of trustworthy online casino companies, equipping local players with a highly-diversified selection of games.

Classified as a safe bet for corporations looking for stable business growth, it offers operators and providers the opportunity to run their businesses in a well-regulated gaming environment. Thanks to stringent laws and thorough regulations, this market also ensures a notable level of player protection.

Relevant Regulatory Institutions, Laws, and Taxes

Italy belongs to countries in which online gambling is legal and regulated. The regulations rely upon Bersani Decree 2006, Finance Act 2007, Abruzzo Decree 2009, and Comunitaria Decree 2011. Betting was legalized in 2007, and tournament poker was officially greenlighted a year later, in 2008. In July 2011, the country legalized cash poker and casino, whereas exchange betting joined the list in 2014.

Gambling is regulated by the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM), that is, the Customs and Monopolies Agency which falls under the Ministry of Economy and Finance. This institution is in charge of overseeing the gambling activities in the state and managing the sector through licensing and regulatory acts. It is also tasked to protect citizens by fighting against crimes.

When it comes to taxes, the interactive gambling sector has the following rates:

• Casino: 25% of gross win (minimum pay-out 80-90%)
• Bingo and poker: 25% of a gross win (min pay-out 70%)
• Sports betting: 24% of gross win
• Horse race betting: 47% of gross win
• Virtual betting: 22% of gross win
• Betting exchanges: 20% of gross win

As for the land-based gambling field, the following taxes apply:

• AWP/Comma 6/New Slots: 24% turnover (min pay-out 68%)
• Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs): 8.6% turnover (min pay-out 84%)
• Bingo: 11% of turnover plus a 1% Sogei fee (min pay-out of 70%)
• Sports betting: 20% of gross win
• Horserace betting: 43% of gross win
• Virtual betting: 22% of gross win

Player Protection and Responsible Gambling

Eager to maintain a high level of player protection, Italy has been putting in plenty of effort ever since the market was launched.

To be more precise, since 2007, the relevant institutions have been attempting to block the ISPs of gambling sites approved in other jurisdictions. However, it remained unexplained whether such action is in accordance with EU law. In September 2011, the government published a blacklist of illegal offshore operators.

Two months before that, the country signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with France. This agreement formalizes information sharing and discussing common including fraud prevention and player protection.

In March 2012, the government discussed the possible ban on gambling advertisements, but not in the form of a blanket ban. Instead, they considered the implementation of measures similar to those in the United Kingdom, such as time slots, stressing only the possibility of winning as well as restrictions on billboard locations.

Six months later, Italy adopted the Balduzzi decree on gambling advertising for both the interactive and land-based industries. As far as the decree defines it, the advertisement must be created in a way that avoids incentivizing gambling activity. Companies that breach the rules are required to pay a fine amounting to €500k.

In November 2015, the self-regulatory advertising authority, Istituto dell’Autodisciplina Pubblicitaria, went live with new guidelines for gambling ads, focusing on better protection of vulnerable groups. With regard to this, in April 2018, Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli launched a consumer self-exclusion program. Applied nationwide, this program allowed customers to self-exclude from every licensed gambling operator with a single request indefinitely or for a fixed period.

The Dignity Decree, which made gambling-related advertising and sponsorship ban official was signed off in August 2018. The Decree became effective starting January 2019.

Welcoming Renowned Studios and Operators

Analyzing online casinos and bingo rooms approved by the Italian iGaming regulator, players shall notice a wide variety of games featured in their respective portfolios. As in many other corners of the world, slot titles represent the most commonly played genre of games. Table games, live dealer games, bingo games, instant wins, scratch cards, and sports betting are also among the top choices.

The immense offer is a result of strategic partnerships between local companies and globally recognized developers of cutting-edge content. Microgame, an Italian application service provider and developer of online platforms and integrated systems of service has so far entered deals with SYNOT Games, Ezugi, ORYX Gaming, Red Tiger, Kiron Interactive, and Red Rake Gaming, among others.

Other studios certified to offer games to Italian players include Play’n GO, Evoplay, Wizard Games, Spearhead Studios, Yggdrasil, Endorphina, and many more. When it comes to operators, the most popular locally acclaimed brands include NetBet, Sisal, SNAI, and so on.

Useful Tips for Selecting the Most Suitable Online Bingo Room

Regardless of the country, a player is situated in, choosing an online casino and/or bingo room is never a simple task. We are all witnessing a rapid expansion of the iGaming industry and a large number of brands joining the sector daily.

While those websites all look attractive and promising on the surface, sometimes things turn out to be quite disappointing. That’s where we step in, sharing some helpful tips to help you make up your mind when presented with multiple options.

Here are a couple of questions that may be of help:

• Does a platform have a license and other certifications?
• Is the selection of games diversified enough? Does the operator have a demo mode for unregistered players?
• Which payment options are offered? What are the maximums and minimums for deposits and withdrawals? Do players need to pay fees?
• Is there any identity verification procedure players need to go through? Are notarized documents among the main requirements?
• Are there any bonuses and promotions? How high are the wagering requirements?
• Does a platform perform well on mobile devices? Is an app required or games can be launched in instant play mode?

Once you answer all these questions, you will be clear whether that specific bingo room has what you are looking for or you need to look elsewhere.

Good luck and gamble responsibly!