Purpose
Before 2006, gambling laws in Italy were highly restrictive. Gambling was illegal in both private clubs and public venues. However, amendments were passed that allowed European Union (EU) operators to provide gambling services in land-based facilities. It wasn’t until 2010 that the Italian government established new laws that allowed players in Italy to gain access to casino websites based in EU-member countries.
Licenses
Licenses issued by the AAMS cover casino gambling, sports betting, horse racing, bingo, and poker. Having a license from the AAMS comes with certain responsibilities that must be followed to keep the licensee in good standing. Online casino operators are required to have their games tested and audited on a regular basis. These operators must also bring in a certain level of annual revenue, as well as capital resources, while the number of available licenses is restricted to a maximum of 200.
Due to legislative changes, operators in the EU and EFTA, as well as operators from offshore jurisdictions, can apply for a gaming license in Italy. Once all required documentation is submitted to the AAMS, applicants can expect to wait up to three months for a thorough review to take place.
If the application is approved, the operator will receive a license. However, before the license goes into effect casino operators are required to undergo an authorization procedure to obtain a certificate for their website and games. This authorization must be done by an AAMS-accredited certification body.
Internet licenses granted by the AAMS last for nine years and allows licensees a gaming portfolio extension from the same license. Some of these extensions include:
- Lotto and associated games
- Instant drawings and deferred drawing lotteries
- National pari-mutuel numeric games
- Certain card games like poker
- Games based on horse races or sports events
Player Protection
The AAMS has certain rules and regulations for the protection of players. When a player signs up for a casino website with an AAMS license, they must sign a contract and provide certain personal
information, such as their name, address, and tax code. A copy of the player’s identification card may also be requested. This information is required to protect minors who are under the age of 18.
For the safety of consumer information and funds, the AAMS requires every online casino to link to the AAMS via SOGEI which allows the Amministrazione autonoma dei monopoli di Stato to carefully record, monitor, validate, and tax every bet, wager, and stake. Gambling websites must also comply with all AAMS guidelines and technological partner SOGEI will periodically check to ensure that these companies are meeting strict software requirements.
The AAMS takes player complaints seriously and will do their best to remedy player issues. However, like most regulators, the AAMS requests that players first try to solve complaints or concerns directly with the online casino that they are playing at.
If a player is unable to solve an issue with the casino directly, then they can use the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Service offered by AAMS to make a complaint directly with the
Amministrazione autonoma dei monopoli di Stato. It is important to understand that the AAMS may not always personally respond to every concern or complaint they receive. However, if they find that an online casino is operating unfairly or with criminal intent, the AAMS may take action to stop the behavior.
Pros and Cons
The AAMS has been proven to be a trusted source for online casino regulation in Italy. The licensing authority has been known to take a strict stance on licensees that have been found to break the terms of their license contract. There are also penalties in place for noncompliance, which may include fines and criminal changes, among other consequences.
These penalties are in place to help ensure that online gambling sites provide players with a fair and transparent gaming experience. The AAMS also holds online casinos to high financial standards which helps ensure that players’ funds are kept secure.
The biggest downside of the AAMS is that only 200 licenses can be issued by the AAMS at any given time. In addition, non-Italian based operators may have difficulty getting a license.
If you plan on playing at an online casino based in Italy, be sure that the gambling site holds a license from the Amministrazione autonoma dei monopoli di Stato. With an AAMS-issued license, you can play your favorite casino games knowing that you’re receiving adequate player protection and fair gaming.
