Italy delays iGaming certification to 2027

SBC News reported that Italy has postponed the launch of its revamped online gambling certification system, with regulator ADM now targeting 15 February 2027 for production. The delay follows a low volume of certification applications and operational problems despite technical support from state IT partner SOGEI.

What happened

Italy’s Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) had already moved from an October start to a phased November timetable. That schedule has now been provisionally pushed to 15 February 2027. According to Italian media cited by SBC News, ADM received too few applications to start the new certification process in October and November, and technical issues persisted even with SOGEI’s assistance.

Despite the shift, November still stands as the deadline for concessionaires to supply their gaming systems to other operators (CFS providers) and platforms that must be held in a shared certification library. CFS operators must submit conformity results by 13 January. Technical and functional checks are due to conclude by 12 February, with production slated three days later.

The certification framework sits within Italy’s broader online gambling overhaul under Legislative Decree 41/2024. It is designed to tighten oversight of the technology underpinning licensed gambling by verifying platform components and integrations through approved bodies. ADM’s stated priorities are security and transparency, while avoiding disruption to licensed operations or tax receipts. As SBC News notes, the "technical postponement" does not affect other concession requirements, including identification, self-exclusion and player protection obligations.

On the land-based side, the government has opted for continuity. The 2027 Budget Bill would extend betting, gaming-machine network and bingo concessions to 31 December 2029, subject to further payments. These would be extensions of current arrangements rather than new concessions. Parliamentary approval is still pending, meaning the package could be amended before the Budget passes.

The same bill proposes notable machine changes from January: the standard PREU levy would rise from 24% to 25% for amusement-with-prizes (AWP) machines and from 8.6% to 9.6% for video lottery terminals (VLTs). Maximum AWP stakes would double from €1 to €2, and the top prize would increase from €100 to €200. Another provision introduces a reduced 20% levy for qualifying AWP machines that return at least 70% of stakes in winnings.

Separately, it remains unclear whether Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government will revive a comprehensive retail reform in 2027. The previous legislative mandate ended in August without agreement on a settlement for the physical gambling network. With an election due next year, the proposed concession extensions would ease short-term pressure around venue allocation and relations with regional authorities.

Why it matters

• For Italy’s online market, the certification delay could affect the timing of system integrations and audits, but ADM aims to avoid disrupting day-to-day licensed gambling or tax flows.
• Suppliers and platform providers may need to adjust delivery and testing plans around the mid-February target, while still meeting the near-term library and conformity milestones.
• If the Budget Bill passes as drafted, land-based operators in Italy may face higher machine levies alongside higher AWP stakes and prizes, which could reshape product mix and economics.
• For UK-facing firms with Italian exposure, these timelines and proposed fiscal changes could influence 2027 planning and cash flow assumptions. The longer concession runway to the end of 2029, if approved, may provide operating continuity, though details could still change in parliament.
• For players, direct impact may be limited in the short term, as ADM’s approach seeks to maintain service continuity. However, machine stake and prize shifts, if enacted, could alter product experiences in Italy.

What to watch

1. Whether CFS providers meet the 13 January conformity submission deadline and whether the technical/functional checks close by 12 February.
2. ADM’s provisional production launch on 15 February 2027 and any further adjustments to the timetable.
3. Parliamentary scrutiny of the 2027 Budget Bill, especially the proposed concession extensions to 31 December 2029 and the machine levy and stake/prize changes from January.
4. Any movement on broader retail reform in 2027 and how the forthcoming election cycle influences timelines and policy choices.

Further reading

• Understanding machine mechanics: /how-slots-work
• How regulation is assessed: /trust/licence-check
• Tax basics for gamblers: /guides/gambling-tax

Related guides

• [How Slots Work](/how-slots-work)
• [Bonus Types](/bonus-types)
• [Wagering Requirements](/wagering-requirements)

Source

This article is based on the report "Italy delays iGaming certification system due to test failures" published by SBC News on 11 November 2026.

Staying in control

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