Gambling in Italy

Four historic land casinos, a state monopoly regulator, and operating without a licence is a crime rather than a fine.

Italy at a glance: the gambling age is 18. Winnings: Collected at the operator for casino games. Regulator: Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM).
18Legal age
Collected at the operator for casino gamesTax on winnings
Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM)Regulator
August 2026Verified

A small, old casino sector

Italy has only a handful of land-based casinos, and they are old. The Casinò di Sanremo opened in 1905 and housed the Sanremo Music Festival from 1951 to 1976; Venice, Campione d'Italia and Saint-Vincent make up the rest.

That scarcity is deliberate. The Italian state has regulated gambling as a monopoly for a very long time and has never licensed casinos widely.

ADM and the criminal standard

Gambling is regulated by the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli, the customs and monopolies agency. Every licensed product runs through it.

One detail sets Italy apart: operating without an ADM licence is a criminal offence, not merely an administrative one. That is stricter than most of Europe and is why the licensed Italian market is unusually self-contained.

The age is 18 with identification required, and casino winnings are taxed at the operator rather than the player.

Cities covered

Before you play anywhere

Two numbers travel better than any local rule. Our house edge entry explains why games that look alike are priced very differently, and true odds is the comparison that prices any bet in seconds.

Set a budget before you sit down. Our responsible gaming page covers deposit limits and self-exclusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the legal gambling age in Italy?
18.
Are gambling winnings taxed in Italy?
Collected at the operator for casino games.
Who regulates gambling in Italy?
Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM).
When was this checked?
Against legal and regulatory sources in August 2026. Gambling law changes, so confirm before relying on it for anything significant.

Ages, tax treatment and regulators on this page were checked against legal and regulatory sources in August 2026. Gambling law changes and treatment differs between products and between recreational and professional players, so this is general information and not tax or legal advice. On a large result, take proper advice rather than a web page.