Purpose and background
Until 2006, Italian gambling law imposed tight restrictions, with gambling prohibited in private clubs as well as public places. Later amendments opened land-based gambling services to operators from the European Union (EU). In 2010, the Italian government then introduced legislation that gave people in Italy access to casino websites located in EU member states.
Licences
AAMS licences encompass casino play, sports wagering, horse racing, bingo and poker. Licence holders have ongoing obligations if they are to remain in good standing. Online casino businesses must arrange regular testing and audits of their games. They are also expected to meet annual revenue and capital requirements, while the number of licences is capped at 200.
Following legislative changes, operators based in the EU, EFTA or offshore jurisdictions may apply for an Italian gaming licence. Once the AAMS has received the required paperwork, the review can take up to three months.
An accepted application leads to a licence, but the operator must complete a separate authorization process before it takes effect. That process requires certification of the website and games by a certification body accredited by AAMS.
AAMS internet licences run for nine years and let operators add other gaming products under the same licence. The possible extensions include:
- Lotto and related games
- Instant and deferred-draw lotteries
- National numeric pari-mutuel games
- Selected card games, including poker
- Games linked to horse races or sporting events
Player protection
AAMS rules include measures intended to protect players. When opening an account with an AAMS-licensed casino, a player must enter into a contract and provide personal details
Such as their name, home address and tax code. The casino may also ask for a copy of the player’s identity card. This information is required to help prevent access by people under 18.
To safeguard customer details and money, AAMS requires online casinos to connect to it through SOGEI. This system enables the authority to record, track, validate and tax each bet, wager and stake. Gambling sites must also meet AAMS standards, and its technology partner SOGEI carries out periodic checks of operators’ software against specified requirements.
AAMS considers player grievances and may work to address them. Its usual first step is to ask players to raise the matter with the casino directly and try to resolve it there.
When direct discussions do not settle a dispute, players can submit a complaint to the AAMS through its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Service. The complaint goes to the
Amministrazione autonoma dei monopoli di Stato. The source cautions that AAMS may not reply personally to every report. If it determines that a casino is acting unfairly or with criminal intent, however, it may intervene to halt the conduct.
Advantages and limitations
The source describes AAMS as a trusted regulator of online casinos in Italy and says it has taken a firm approach when licensees breach their agreements. Non-compliance can bring penalties, potentially including fines and criminal charges, as well as other consequences.
Such enforcement is intended to support fair, transparent play. AAMS applies demanding financial standards to online casinos to help protect players’ funds.
One limitation is the 200-licence ceiling imposed by AAMS at any one time. Operators based outside Italy may also find it harder to secure a licence.
Anyone considering an Italy-based online casino should check whether it holds a licence from the Amministrazione autonoma dei monopoli di Stato. The original article presents an AAMS licence as a route to player safeguards and fair play for its casino games; those claims concern the Italian regulatory framework.
