Nearly a decade after Italy took a positive stance towards gambling, including online casino games, the country has posted a record-breaking gross gaming revenue in what has been a challenging year across the globe.
Italy is a small country with a long gambling history that can be traced back as far as the Roman Empire. This proud country, once the centre of one of the world’s most powerful nations, gave us such games as backgammon, baccarat and even bingo – not to mention that the word ‘casino’ has its roots in Italian.
Despite a clear passion for both games of chances and betting on sporting events, it was not until 2006 that the Italian government addressed the following points:
The real turning point in legal gambling in Italy was the 2011 "Comunitaria" decree which addressed cash-based poker and casino gaming, taxed profits not turnover and set the country’s Return to Player (RTP) requirement at a minimum of 90%.
Italy Green Lights Online Gambling
With these simple yet vital changes in place, the only sticking point in Italy’s view of gambling post-2006 was its negative response to the burgeoning online and mobile casino market.
European Commission took Italy to task over its restrictions of free trade. The case was made that in blocking hundreds of EU member-state based businesses Italy was contravening one of the union’s core principles, the right to provide cross-border services.
As of 2010 international operators have been able to offer casino games, skill games, cash poker and many other forms of online gambling in Italy provided they have been approved by the AAMS (Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato) and hold the necessary licenses.
Amazing New Milestone Achieved
Last month was the first time that Italy’s regulated gambling sector posted monthly revenue figures in excess of €250 million. Reaching this milestone is largely thanks to the growth of its online gambling sector during a year that has been difficult on land-based gambling providers across the globe.
The November 2020 Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) figure of €258.9 million includes:
The growth of gambling in Italy is particularly impressive when you consider the challenges of 2020 and compare it year on year:
The last time the GGR for region saw the percentile increase that it did from 2019 to 2020 was the growth from 2016 to 2017 and that was objectively from a very low baseline.
It is fantastic to see how an open-minded and mature approach to gambling as a business nearly a decade ago has resulted in Italy realising a vital source of revenue for the country.
Discover football-themed casino games inspired by the 2026 World Cup - from live dealer tables to crash games and online slots. You’ll find new ways to enjoy this world-class tournament beyond sports betting.
Stake leads the way in adventurous advertising in celebration of football. Going beyond the scope of ordinary and bringing to life something extraordinary - A football match in the sky.
Looking for the best crypto casino bonuses? Discover the top 7 crypto casinos offering generous welcome rewards, free spins, cashback deals, and ongoing promotions.
Casinos
Games
Jackpots
