The European playing sector recorded notable progress in 2024, increasing by 4.8% worldwide, largely fueled by on-line casinos and sports activities betting. Italy ranked fifth amongst European international locations for playing income, highlighting the energy of its on-line on line casino market and lottery segments, even with a restricted variety of land-based casinos.
European Playing Rankings
The UK maintained its lead within the European playing panorama, attaining a rating of 9.71 out of 10. Its income breakdown included over $14.7 billion from casinos and on line casino video games, $6.8 billion from lotteries, and almost $6 billion from sports activities betting. The UK additionally hosts 144 bodily casinos, second solely to France.
Germany secured second place with a rating of 9.37, producing greater than $22 billion in income. Its earnings got here from $13.2 billion in on line casino operations, $5.7 billion from lotteries and bingo, and $3.1 billion from sports activities betting. France adopted in third, with a rating of 9.19, pushed by its 205 casinos – the best quantity throughout Europe – and a complete income exceeding $14.8 billion in 2024, together with $8.3 billion from casinos. Spain ranked fourth with a rating of 8.60, producing near $9 billion by $5.6 billion from casinos, $2.2 billion from lotteries, and $1.1 billion from sports activities betting.
Italy got here in fifth with a rating of 8.40, reporting a playing turnover surpassing $13 billion. This complete was composed of $8.3 billion from casinos, $3 billion from lotteries, and $1.8 billion from sports activities betting. Regardless of these figures, Italy operates solely six bodily casinos, underscoring the dominant function of on-line platforms and lottery revenues in its market efficiency.
Licensing Overhaul and Market Consolidation
In 2025, Italy’s Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) accomplished its newest tender course of for distant playing concessions, granting 46 new on-line playing licenses. Notable approvals went to main operators like Betfair, Snaitech, Sisal, 888 Italia, Bet365, LeoVegas, and William Hill. Different profitable candidates included Betsson, Admiral Sport, Winamax, Marathonbet, and Eurobet Italia.
The brand new licensing spherical launched the next entry price, with every license priced at €7 million per vertical per model, a major enhance from the €200,000 charge within the earlier mannequin. This shift, alongside stricter compliance and monetary necessities, has deterred smaller operators, resulting in a pointy discount in license purposes in comparison with 2018, when 93 operators utilized, with 81 approvals.
Trade consultants anticipate a serious consolidation of the market. Christian Tirabassi of Ficom Leisure famous that the reforms are driving “pure choice,” favoring financially robust, multi-channel operators able to managing omnichannel methods. Analysts challenge that after the reforms take full impact, roughly 30 to 35 operators will stay lively, controlling a majority share of Italy’s roughly €5.2 billion on-line GGR.
Regulatory Reforms and Development Potential
The reforms prolong past licensing charges, aiming to modernize Italy’s regulatory framework. New participant safety instruments will enable customers to set deposit and deadlines, self-exclude, and obtain automated alerts addressing compulsive playing behaviors. Stricter measures will particularly goal gamers aged 18 to 24, marking a regulatory first in Europe.
Italy’s on-line playing market, regulated since 2006, continues to increase. Complete gross gaming income (GGR) reached €21.6 billion in 2024, a 4.4% enhance from the earlier yr, with on-line exercise accounting for about €5 billion of that determine. Mergers and acquisitions, similar to Flutter’s €2.3 billion buy of Snaitech, spotlight the development towards consolidation and dominance by main gamers. Analysts from Jefferies estimate Flutter’s market share may rise to 30%, supported by manufacturers like Sisal and PokerStars.
In the meantime, reforms to the land-based playing sector have been delayed to mid-2026. These modifications are anticipated to unify licensing, cap weekly money deposits at €100, and introduce necessary ID and self-exclusion programs.
Regardless of the modifications and heightened competitors, Italy’s lottery sector stays secure, with IGT retaining unique operational rights till 2034 underneath a renewed €2.23 billion settlement, reinforcing its pivotal function within the Italian market.
Supply:
Italy is fifth in Europe for playing. Over 13 billion in turnover, en.ilsole24ore.com, August 22, 2025
