Italy has long been one of Europe’s most active gambling markets. From its thriving lottery system to the popularity of online betting and casino games. However, not all gambling activities in the country operate within the bounds of the law. Illegal casinos, especially those operating online, pose a real and growing threat to the regulated Italian gambling market.
In this blog, we explain what illegal casinos are, how they affect the Italian market, and most importantly, the risks they pose to players, the economy, and regulatory integrity.
What Are Illegal Casinos?
The Italian gambling industry generates billions in annual revenue and provides significant tax income for the government. According to the European Gaming & Betting Association, the Italian online gambling marked had a total gross revenue of 4,6 billion euros in the year 2023. Because of the active gambling market, Italy is an attractive market for in Italy illegal casinos.
Illegal casinos are gambling platforms that operate without proper authorization or licensing from the relevant regulatory body. In Italy, the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) is responsible for issuing licenses and monitoring compliance with gambling laws.
A casino is considered illegal if:
- It operates without a valid ADM license.
- It targets Italian consumers but is licensed in a different jurisdiction without legal permission to operate in Italy.
- It uses deceptive tactics to appear legitimate (e.g., copying licensed operators or using fake certifications).
- It fails to meet national standards on responsible gambling, anti-money laundering (AML), or player protection.
While some illegal operations are based in physical venues, the most pressing issue today is the rise of unlicensed online casinos accessible via the internet or mobile devices. The ADM has a complete register of all online casinos that have a valid license in Italy. All in Italy licensed online casinos are checked by the ADM and are obligated to fully comply with the various Italian gambling laws, among which the Legislative Decree 25 March 2024, n. 41 (originally called the: “DECRETO LEGISLATIVO 25 marzo 2024, n. 41”).
Why Do Players Use Illegal Casinos?
Despite the availability of legal alternatives, some Italian players still engage with illegal platforms. This often comes down to a few factors. Unlicensed casinos may offer large welcome bonuses, free spins, or higher payout rates than their regulated counterparts, as illegal casino’s are not obligated to adhere to the Italian laws to protect players from gambling addiction or regulations regarding advertising possibilities. These offers are designed to attract players and keep them playing at the illegal online casino.
Furthermore, many players do not know how to distinguish between licensed and unlicensed casinos. Illegal websites often present themselves professionally, mimicking the look and feel of legitimate Italian operators. Licensed casinos in Italy are bound by strict rules concerning responsible gambling, including deposit limits, self-exclusion, and KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements. These are implemented to protect players from gambling addiction and to ensure that the personal data collected by online casino’s are not misused.
Risks of Using Illegal Casinos
Choosing to gamble on an unlicensed platform comes with a range of serious risks. These don’t just affect the individual player but also the broader Italian gambling ecosystem and public safety.
Legal casinos in Italy are required to follow strict player protection guidelines. These include safeguards such as secure transactions and data encryption, verification of player identity and fair game testing and transparency.
Legal applicability
Illegal operators are not bound by any of these rules. If something goes wrong (whether it’s a refused withdrawal, account lockout, or fraudulent behavior) the player has mostly no legal recourse. Almost all illegal online casinos are situated abroad making legal processes very complicated and long winded. Often involving different national laws and regulations, making the whole process for legal recourse very expensive and practically impossible.
Illegal platforms operate outside of regulatory oversight, which is why fraud is common. Various examples of fraudulent activities of illegal online casinos are rigged games with unfair odds, refusal to pay out winnings (or implementing unnecessary difficult/unclear systems for paying winnings out), unauthorized use of personal player data and hidden fees or account manipulation. Some platforms may even serve as a front for phishing schemes or identity theft.
Money Laundering and Criminal Activity
Unlicensed casinos furthermore can also serve as conduits for money laundering, terrorist financing, or organized crime. Without proper KYC and AML checks, lawbreakers can easily move large amounts of illicit funds through these platforms. This undermines national security, economic stability and the interests of the public.
Problem Gambling and Lack of Support
Italy has implemented comprehensive responsible gambling measures for licensed operators, including self-exclusion tools and addiction support resources. Illegal platforms are not obligated to adhere to these measures, which can lead to increased gambling addiction, loss of savings or employment and family and social issues. Players who need help often find themselves without support when using unauthorized sites.
Legal Consequences for Players
While the primary burden of legality rests on the operator, Italian law does provide for penalties against players who gamble on unauthorized sites. These may include administrative fines, confiscation of winnings and the blocking of bank transactions. Although enforcement is often focused on shutting down illegal operators, players are not entirely exempt from legal repercussions.
A famous example of legal repercussions for a player participating at an in Italy illegal online gambling offer is the case of soccer player and midfielder Nicolò Fagioli, who has been fined 12.500 euro for betting on matches at in Italy illegal online casino’s. Fagioli was also banned from participating in soccer for 12 months of which 5 months were suspended because Fagioli completed various gambling addiction prevention courses.
Impact on the Legal Gambling Market
Outside of the risks for players when playing at illegal online casino’s, illegal casino’s can also undermine the regulated industry in multiple ways under which:
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Loss of Tax Revenue
Legal operators in Italy pay significant taxes, which fund public services such as healthcare, infrastructure, and education. Illegal casinos do not pay taxes in Italy, leading to a loss in state income and placing unfair pressure on legally operated online casino’s.
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Unfair Competition
Illegal operators are not obligated to invest in licensing, responsible gambling tools, or AML compliance. This allows them to offer more enticing (but dangerous) products, bonusses and games, distorting the market and making it harder for licensed operators to compete.
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Damage to Public Trust
When players have bad experiences with unlicensed platforms, it damages public confidence in the entire Italian online gambling sector. This can reduce participation in legal gambling and increase skepticism of all operators, whether legal or not.
How Italy Fights Illegal Casinos
The Italian government and the ADM have taken several steps to counter illegal gambling. The ADM regularly updates its list of licensed online casino websites and cooperates with internet service providers (such as Google) to block access to illegal online casino’s within Italy. Thousands of domains have been shut down this way.
Italian authorities also work with (international) banks and payment processors to block transactions between Italian consumers and unlicensed gambling operators, to prevent money laundering and the funding of illegal activities (and organizations).
The ADM also puts a lot of efforts into educating consumers about how to identify licensed operators. This includes promoting the ADM logo and encouraging responsible gambling. Since many illegal operators are based abroad, ADM also works with other regulators and international enforcement agencies to shut down criminal networks and bring offenders to justice.
Lastly you as an Italian player can also help in combating illegal online casino’s. When noticing an unlicensed online casino where Italian players can participate in the illegal offer, you can report the online casino to the ADM, as stated on the website of the ADM. The e-mail address to report illegal gaming sites is: monopoli.segnalazionesiti@adm.gov.it.
Overview
In conclusion Italian players that play at illegal gambling operators are taking considerable risks every time that they play. The highest risks being:
| Risk | Elaboration |
| Lack of player protection | Illegal sites do not comply with ADM’s strict safety standards, leaving users exposed to fraud, scams, and data theft. |
| No responsible gambling tools | Players can’t access deposit limits, self-exclusion, or cooling-off periods, all tools required under Italian gambling law. |
| No legal recourse in disputes | If you’re cheated or denied winnings, you have (close to) no legal recourse to enforce fair treatment (or demand your money back). |
| Higher risk of addiction | Without safeguards, players are more likely to lose control over their gambling habits, and are in some cases even encouraged to gamble irresponsibly. |
| Money laundering and crime links | Unlicensed platforms may be used for money laundering or organized crime operations. |
| Data privacy violations | Personal and financial data may be harvested or sold without consent or misused for other purposes undisclosed to the player. |
| Payment risks | Deposits and withdrawals may be blocked, delayed, or disappear entirely without warning. |
| No tax revenue for the state | Illegal gambling deprives Italy of public funds used for health, education, and addiction support. |
| Potential fines for players | Players using illegal sites risk administrative penalties under Italian law. |
| ISP and payment blocking | The ADM can block access to unlicensed websites and disrupt payment methods used on them, possibly making the accounts of players playing at illegal online casinos permanently inaccessible. |
Final Thoughts
Illegal casinos pose a significant threat to the safety of Italian players, the integrity of the market, and the country’s financial and legal systems. While they may appear tempting with high bonuses or fewer restrictions, they ultimately expose players to a wide array of risks, from fraud to addiction and even legal penalties.
For the Italian gambling sector to remain safe, fair, and sustainable, enforcement efforts must continue, and players must make informed, responsible choices. Supporting licensed operators not only protects individual wellbeing but helps ensure the long-term health of Italy’s gambling industry.
Outside of closely looking at the whitelist of the Italian ADM, there are also many websites that offer comprehensive overviews of legal online casinos in Italy, players can use them as a guide to find a safe and licensed Italian online casino:
For more information about online casinos in Italy and the Italian responsible gambling offer, keep an eye on our other blogs at QMRA! QMRA is furthermore also active in Italy and continuously monitors the Italian gambling market for important changes for our QMRA IT affiliates!
