Local news outlet Agimeg reported that the process of checking and verifying the documentation submitted as part of the license application process that took place early this year is about to be completed and that the licenses will be issued before the Christmas holidays. The licenses that are to be assigned to approved applicants will be valid through December 31, 2022.
News from Italy arrive just as the country is gearing up for a recently approved ban on all forms of gambling advertising. The ban, promoted by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio, will come into force January 1, 2019.
Italy’s gambling regulator Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) launched the application process for online gaming and betting licenses in January after months of delays. Said process was originally expected to be launched last September.
Operators interested to enter the Italian online gambling market and ones interested to have their existing licenses extended had up to March 20 to submit the necessary documentation and participate in the bidding process.
The ADM had initially planned to issue up to 120 licenses. As part of the application process, each applicant was required to pay a one-off fee of €200,000. The amount of €24 million was thus expected to enter Italy’s coffers only from the application process.
However, the above prognosis turned out a bit too optimistic as the ADM eventually received 80 applications from 70 companies.
Source: GMB / Casino News Daily
