Italy has reported a “stable, as anticipated” start to its new online gambling regime, as the market welcomed 46 online licences into full operation during December 2025.

Italy’s Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) has disclosed the first headline figures for December 2025, marking the first full month of activity under the country’s restructured online licensing framework.

The disclosures highlighted “expected contrasts” across verticals, as the online casino segment continued its upward trajectory while online sportsbook activity recorded a short-term contraction linked to the market reset.

Online Casinos: the growth engine

Online casinos closed December with spesa (GGR) of €333.7m, representing an 18% year-on-year increase from €282m in December 2024.

The strong December showing capped a solid year for the segment, with total online casino spending in 2025 reaching €3.2bn, up from €2.8bn in 2024 — a rise of 15.8%. Casino products remained Italy’s preferred online gambling vertical, well ahead of online sports betting (€1.7bn) and poker (€190m) over the full year.

In terms of market share by spend, Lottomatica retained its leadership position, accounting for around 31% of total online casino spending. Flutter Entertainment’s Italian unit — comprising Sisal, Snai, PokerStars, Tombola and Betfair — followed in second place with a combined market share of approximately 26.5%.

Other operators featuring within the top tier included Eurobet (Entain), 888 (Evoke), E-play 24 (Grupo CIRSA) and StarCasinò (Betsson).

Slots continued to dominate casino play, generating more than €215m in December, equivalent to around 65% of total casino spending for the month. 

Data from market-intelligence platform iGamingTracker indicates that Novomatic’s Book of Ra remained the most prominent slot title, followed by Play’n GO’s Book of Dead and Amusnet’s Shining Crown. At supplier level, Pragmatic Play led slot content distribution, ahead of Playtech and Games Global.

Bookmakers adjust to new orders

By contrast, Italy’s online betting market experienced a weaker December as the new regime bedded in. Total betting spend for the month stood at €126.6m, down 18.8% year-on-year from €155.9m in December 2024.

ADM also reported a 4% decline in betting turnover, with stakes totalling €1.2bn. The sharper fall in revenue compared with wagering reflects margin compression during the transition period. A short-term contraction had been widely anticipated following the reduction in licensed operators and the migration to new platforms, with industry observers expecting a phase of consolidation before stabilisation.

Despite the downturn, Lottomatica retained its leading position in online betting, holding a 30.8% share of monthly spending, broadly in line with its position a year earlier. Sisal strengthened its standing, increasing its market share to 18.3% from 17.1%, while Snaitech completed the podium with 11.2%, up from 10.5% year-on-year.

Further down the market, a mixed picture emerged. Operators such as Scommettendo (DaznBet) and Domus Bet remained broadly stable, while limited growth was recorded by brands including Betsson Group, PokerStars and Eurobet, reflecting ongoing redistribution of share within a contracting market.

The sportsbook segment in particular has been impacted by a sharp reduction in licensed participation, with more than 300 previously listed domains consolidated into 46 active concessions under the new framework. 

Notable withdrawals following the regime change include Super Group’s Betway, and Kindred Group’s Unibet, both of which chose not to renew their licences with ADM.

Reorganisation decree still in-play 

Looking ahead to 2026, Italy’s gambling sector will continue its “generational transformation” under the Reorganisation Decree of the Meloni government. 

Backed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the decree is focused on overhauling licensing structures, strengthening consumer protections and safeguarding tax efficiency across the gambling sector.

For retail and land-based venues, the government expects negotiations on new licensing terms with regional and municipal authorities to form phase two of the reform programme.

Further initiatives will see the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) work alongside ADM and state IT provider SOGEI to develop a “protective shield” for Italy’s online gambling market. 

The project, described as a first-of-its-kind initiative within the EU, is designed to protect the licensed sector from black-market encroachment through coordinated safeguards across banking, IT and telecommunications systems.

MEF has repeatedly underlined the economic significance of the reform agenda. Italy’s gambling industry is estimated to generate €21bn in gross income, contributing around €8bn annually to the state through taxes and duties.

A final pillar of the reform will focus on the introduction of a new gambling advertising code, intended to repeal and replace the widely criticised Dignity Decree of 2018, which imposed a blanket ban on gambling advertising and sponsorship. 

Sports Minister Andrea Abodi has been tasked with developing the new framework, in consultation with the Italian Olympic Committee and football leagues who will be represented by Serie A President Ezio Simonelli.