The European Commission (EC) has initiated a consultation process regarding the technical regulations for Italy’s proposed new online gambling framework. As is typical for legislative changes within European Union countries, this process seeks to collect feedback on the potential impact of the new regulations.
The consultation represents the concluding phase of the legislative reform process, which is currently in a compulsory three-month pause until 18 October. This interval provides an opportunity for other EU member states and stakeholders to examine and provide feedback on the proposed changes.
If the responses do not present major issues, the Italian government plans for the national regulatory body, ADM, to start accepting applications for online gambling licenсes either in late December 2024 or early January 2025.
Central aspects of the proposed structure involve a notable rise in the cost of online gambling licenсes, increasing from €200,000 in 2018 to €7 million. The Ministry of Finance has defended this increase by pointing to substantial shifts in the market, which is now largely controlled by major multinational corporations. Licenses will be valid for a nine-year term, with operators required to pay 3% of their annual gross gaming revenue (GGR).
Additionally, IT infrastructure, including cloud services, must be based within the European Economic Area (EEA) to adhere to EU data protection regulations.regulations and ensure secure communication with the state IT provider, Sogei. Furthermore, operators are required to adhere to regulations concerning the implementation of self-exclusion tools.
Meanwhile, Pragmatic Play has announced a new deal with Mexican online casino operator Betxico, marking an important step in its expansion across the Latin American market.
Through this collaboration, Pragmatic Play will integrate its portfolio into Betxico’s online platform. As a result, Betxico’s customers will gain access to popular titles.
Victor Arias, Vice President of Latin American Operations at Arrise, which powers Pragmatic Play, emphasised the importance of the partnership, stating: “This collaboration highlights Pragmatic Play’s commitment to delivering leading gaming experiences globally and demonstrates our dedication to expanding in the dynamic LatAm market.”
Patricio Garza, Director of Operations at Betxico, said: “Partnering with Pragmatic Play to offer more outstanding games to our customers is a significant milestone as we continue to grow and establish ourselves as a leading iGaming operator in Latin America.”
This partnership follows Pragmatic Play’s earlier deal with Bplay in Brazil, which also focused on bringing its slots, live casino, and virtual sports offerings to the Brazilian market through Bplay’s platform.
