Online gaming license 2025: Italy’s Council of State confirms procedure, ADM extends deadline to 12 November, 46 official licensees announced
The Italian online gambling sector is undergoing an unprecedented phase. In these final days of July 2025, the industry has witnessed the convergence of three major developments that are reshaping its regulatory, commercial, and competitive landscape. Italy’s Council of State has confirmed the legitimacy of the tender for awarding online licences; the has officially extended the deadline for the online procedure to 12 November; and, most significantly for the market, the selection committee has published the final list of 46 successful operators, awarding a total of 52 licences.
This marks a historic turning point for Italy’s licensing system, closing the chapter on the previous framework and ushering in a model based on greater selectivity, technical rigour, and regulatory sustainability. Since its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union last December, the 2025 online gambling tender has stood out as the most complex and selective of the past decade, attracting attention from operators, legal advisors, and European gaming sector observers alike.
Council of State rejects appeal: green light for the tender
The first challenge was of a legal nature. Several operators filed an appeal against the validity of the tender, seeking an injunction to suspend proceedings. However, the Council of State reviewed the matter and dismissed the precautionary request, ruling that the issues raised – though intricate – were not grounds to halt the process.
Specifically, Constitutional Court ruling No. 104/2025, cited in the appeal, was deemed not directly impactful on the regulatory framework of the tender, as it concerned minor aspects – such as the role of Top-Up Points (Punti Vendita Ricarica) – which do not affect the core criteria for selecting online gaming licensees. Furthermore, the Council noted a significant inconsistency: many of the appellants had submitted their bids regardless, thereby de facto acknowledging the legitimacy of the process laid out by ADM.
This legal ruling reinforced ADM’s position and eliminated any risk of an administrative deadlock at a critical moment in Italy’s gaming sector reform.
ADM extends deadline: new closing date set for 12 November 2025
In parallel, ADM issued an – signed by Project Manager Antonio Giuliani – formally extending the tender deadline to 12 November 2025, beyond the original cut-off of 17 September. This technical extension, permitted under Legislative Decree 36/2023 (Public Contracts Code), allows for a maximum three-month delay in the event of exceptional circumstances.
The operative phase of the tender – meaning the period during which bids could be submitted and assessed – ran from 31 March to 30 May 2025. The preceding months, though formally part of the timeline, were effectively inactive, serving only as a public consultation phase for documentation.
ADM justified the extension as necessary to thoroughly complete the procedural and administrative work with full accuracy and legal soundness. The agency emphasised that no harm was caused – neither to existing licensees nor to public revenue – and that the extension would enhance scrutiny of regulatory compliance.
Final results published: 46 approved operators, 52 licences awarded
On 24 July 2025, the Evaluation Committee released the official list of , who collectively secured 52 online gaming licences. Alongside the names, the final scores based on technical and financial submissions were also made public.
Three operators secured the highest possible score of 30 points:
- MyLotteries S.r.l. (IGT)
- Betpoint S.r.l.
- Vittoria Bet 2009 S.r.l.
Close behind, with 29 points, were several established industry players:
- Admiral Sport
- Betflag
- Eurobet
- Goldbet
- Planetwin365 (PWO)
- Sisal
- Snaitech
- Totosì
- Giochi24
Other high-ranking applicants included Greentube Malta, 888 Italia, Winamax, Tombola, Stake, LeoVegas, and longstanding public operators such as Casinò di Venezia, Sanremo, Replatz, and Betfair Italia, scoring between 28 and 22 points.
This round of awards signals that the tender was both highly selective and broadly inclusive, recognising not only dominant brands but also niche and specialised providers. With these results now confirmed, the selected companies will proceed to sign concession agreements with ADM, thereby formally initiating their new online gaming licences in Italy.
A strategic turning point for iGaming operators
For iGaming operators, the outcome of the 2025 online gaming tender is far more than a procedural milestone – it marks the beginning of a new strategic phase. These licences come with a series of strict regulatory and technical requirements: player tracking, anti-money laundering protocols, responsible gambling tools, and advanced reporting obligations.
Operators will need to demonstrate technological capability, corporate integrity, and full compliance to remain competitive. The new regulatory regime leaves little room for operators that cannot adapt. Instead, it favours those who invest in innovation, player protection, and sustainable business models.
For those awarded licences, this is more than a legal victory – it is a business opportunity to expand market share, enhance brand credibility, and operate within one of Europe’s most tightly regulated gaming ecosystems.
Italy’s online gaming sector looks to the future
The combination of judicial clarity, administrative transparency, and a rigorous tender process has produced a model that other jurisdictions may look to emulate. Italy has long needed to modernise its approach to online gambling regulation. With this tender now completed, the country is aligned with best practices across the European Union, setting a benchmark for licence governance, market integrity, and consumer safeguards.
The 46 operators now carry the responsibility of shaping this next chapter. The challenge ahead lies in meeting rising regulatory expectations while earning the trust of an increasingly demanding public. Responsible, secure, and transparent operations are no longer optional – they are non-negotiable.
This article was first published in Italian on 25 July 2025.
