Alex Vasile has an iGaming background with over five years working in Support and Account / VIP management. He is also an experienced writer covering topics related to gambling legislation and jurisdictions, casino bonuses and wagering requirements and casino games rules.
, | Updated: September 26, 2025
Gambling has been a popular pastime since the Roman Empire. Italians enjoy betting on almost everything, especially sports. Football and horse racing remain the most popular options among Italian bettors. Interestingly, Italy is home to the first gambling house, the Ridotto, which welcomed its first visitors in 1638.
Today, Italy’s gambling market is considered one of the largest in the European Union. Figures show that Italians wagered a total of €111 billion in 2021. In the same year, gross gaming revenue (GGR) from online gambling activities reached €3.46 billion, with online sports betting accounting for €1.44 billion of that total.
Best Sports Betting Sites in Italy
Italy legalized online sports betting in 2006. Since 2010, foreign operators seeking to enter the Italian market have been able to apply for licenses from the country’s gambling regulator, the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM). Italian bettors looking for a reliable sportsbook should check our list of the best sports betting sites. We have ranked these sites based on their reputation, available betting markets, and supported payment methods.
New customers only. 18+, BeGambleAware.org. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus. Wagering requirements: Sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), Casino 25x. Only one bonus can be used at a time, Sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the Casino, unless the bonus has been forfeited. Bonus will expire after 7 days of opt-in.
New customers only. Deposit £10 min and claim in ‘my offers’ 1x100% mobile in-play profit boost. Max stake £10. Max extra winnings £100. Valid for 30 days. Skrill/Neteller deposits do not qualify. 18+ Full T&Cs apply www.begambleaware.org
18+ New players only. Minimum deposit $20. The bonus and the deposit need to be rolled over 4x at min. odds of -200 (1.5) before a payout is possible Max. $200 of every bet count towards the rollover.
18+ New Accounts only. Up to 10% up €100 match bonus on each of the first 3 deposits. €25 Extra Free Bet for 1st deposit of €500 or more. Up to 100% combo boost.
Best Sports Betting Bonuses in Italy
Italian sports fans can take advantage of a variety of sports betting promotions. Whether you’re new to the scene or a seasoned punter, most sportsbooks offer generous bonuses. However, you must comply with the specific bonus terms to cash out your profits. Some sportsbooks advertise eye-catching offers that carry steep wagering requirements, so we urge our readers to review the terms carefully before claiming any promotion.
Match Deposit Bonus
Free Bets
Risk-Free Bets
Acca Insurance
Match Deposit Bonus
Italy-friendly betting sites often provide welcome bonuses to newly registered players who make a qualifying deposit. While welcome offers come in many forms, the match deposit bonus is the most common. Your first deposit is matched by a certain percentage up to a specified amount. Betting sites attach wagering requirements to match deposit bonuses, and sports fans must meet them within a designated time frame.
Free Bets
Many online sportsbooks licensed by the ADM pamper both new and existing users with free bets. To qualify for a free bet bonus, you may need to fund your account or wager a specified amount. Free bets allow punters to place a wager on a sporting event without risking real money. If your bet wins, you will collect the winnings from the free bet.
Risk-Free Bets
Risk-free bets are commonly available at ADM-licensed betting sites. This promotion refunds the amount of your initial wager as site credits (free bets) if your bet settles as a loss. You can use the free bets to place a wager on any sporting event you choose; however, you cannot withdraw the stake from a free bet.
Acca Insurance
Acca insurance is a popular promotion offered at many online sportsbooks that serve Italian punters. If you place an accumulator bet and one leg lets you down, the betting site will refund your stake as a free bet. Not all betting markets and sporting events qualify for an Acca insurance promotion. Besides, your accumulator bet must include a minimum number of selections placed at minimum odds as specified by the bookmaker.
Italy has a rich gambling history that dates back to the Roman Empire. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the world’s first gambling house opened its doors in Venice in 1638. Although anyone could visit the venue, the stakes were extremely high, so only affluent people could afford to gamble there.
However, Emperor Plautus banned all forms of gambling because he believed it set a bad example for the younger generation. The emperors who followed upheld the prohibition, which remained in place for years. Still, the ban could not stop avid gamblers and punters from pursuing their hobby. The strict regulations paved the way for a vast black market controlled by the Sicilian mafia.
In 1948, the Legislative Decree no. 496 was signed into law to properly regulate Italy’s offline gambling market. Today, only four brick-and-mortar casinos operate within the country.
The Legal Status of Online Sports Betting in Italy
Italy Prepares for Gambling Reorganization
The Legal Status of Online Sports Betting in Italy
According to Italian Criminal Law, organizing gambling activities in public places or private clubs is illegal. The law also distinguishes between games of chance and games of skill. Because sports betting requires substantial skill, it is classified as a legal gambling activity in Italy.
Until 2006, all forms of online gambling, including sports betting, were illegal in Italy. Nevertheless, Italian punters could still access foreign betting sites and wager on their favorite sports without facing prosecution. As a result, the government lost millions in revenue. What is more, Italy’s gambling ban was in clear violation of EU laws concerning the free movement of services. Consequently, Italy had no choice but to amend its gambling legislation.
In 2006, the country legalized several online gambling activities, with the exception of games of chance. The European Union criticized Italy for its restrictive regulations, which prevented foreign operators from entering the Italian market. At that time, only domestic operators were permitted to accept bets from Italian punters. Therefore, Italy had to revise its gambling laws, and in 2010 the market finally opened to foreign operators.
The regulatory authority responsible for issuing licenses to international operators was the Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato – Autonomous Administration of State Monopolies (AAMS). In 2014, AAMS was rebranded as the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM).
To obtain an Italian license, operators must meet strict conditions. They must be based in an EU country and pay an application fee of €350,000. Another requirement for ADM-licensed betting sites is to use the .it web extension. Additionally, operators must prove a turnover of at least €1.5 million in the previous two years. Licenses are valid for nine years.
According to Italian gambling law, individuals under the age of 18 are not allowed to participate in online gambling activities, including sports betting.
Italy Prepares for Gambling Reorganization
In October 2022, the country introduced new rules stipulating that winnings from fixed-odds bets cannot exceed €50,000. In addition, the tax on online betting is now 24%, whereas brick-and-mortar betting shops pay 20%.
It is also important to note that there is a cap on the number of licenses the Italian regulator can issue. In 2021, the country decided to reduce the number of online gambling licenses from 120 to 40. Nonetheless, Parliament granted online and retail bookies a two-year license extension until 30th June 2024, buying time to reorganize Italy’s gambling laws.
Treasury Deputy Italo Volpe has been tasked with overseeing the reorganization of the gambling industry. His goal is to “bring stability to the marketplace” and introduce new rules regarding gambling venues, shop distances, opening times, and problem gambling.
Many sports betting sites legally operate in Italy. When selecting an online sportsbook, Italian bettors should first verify that the platform has been approved by the ADM. In addition, reputable Italian-friendly betting sites usually end with “.it”. Before joining a betting site, it is also wise to read reviews from existing customers.
Italy does not impose taxes on gambling winnings, which is great news for Italian punters—they can keep everything they win. However, online sportsbooks are subject to a 24% tax on their GGR, while retail betting operators pay 20%.
Italy is a gambling-friendly country that permits nearly all forms of wagering. Some of the world’s top football clubs are based there, which explains why football is among the most watched sports and draws substantial betting action. Horse race betting is also very popular. Essentially, Italian punters can bet on almost anything except blood sports.
In 2018, Italy’s Council of Ministers approved a blanket ban on gambling advertisements, which took effect on January 1, 2019. The ban prevents companies from promoting gambling services through media platforms such as television, radio, and websites. In addition, the government has barred football teams from entering sponsorship deals with betting companies.
Licensed betting sites that cater to Italian sports fans support a variety of reliable payment solutions. Debit and credit cards from Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro are widely used. Bettors also frequently choose digital wallets such as Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, PayPal, MuchBetter, and others. Many Italian punters additionally use Google Pay and Apple Pay to fund their betting accounts.