Sports in Italy is huge, as is the online gambling market. The government has progressed from their closed market, relaxing certain regulations and giving outside operators the opportunity to enter the country, breathing new life into the industry in doing so. Below we mention the most important factors to consider when choosing the right betting site which accepts Italian players and residents.
- Best Betting Sites We Recommend for Betting in Italy
- Online Betting in Italy Explained
- Is Online Betting Legal in Italy?
- Choosing a Good Online Italian Bookmaker
- Popular Payment Methods for Italian Bettors
- Live Betting in Italy
- How To Bet Online in Italy
- Other Country Betting Guides - Click Each Flag To Learn More
- Best Italy Betting Sites FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
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#1
Snai
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#2
Eurobet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#3
AdmiralBet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#4
Goldbet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#5
Marathonbet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
New Customer Offer - Open to new accounts only. Deposit £20 and turnover your deposit five (5) times on the Sportsbook - trebles and accumulators (with three or more selections only), minimum odds each selection 1/2 (1.50) - and you’ll receive a £20 Free Bet. Additional deposits may be required in order to fulfil the turnover conditions, which must be met within 90 days of depositing. Bets placed using Free Bets or Bonus funds, or bets that have been Cashed Out, do not count towards turnover requirements. The Free Bet will expire seven days after being credited and can only be placed as a win only single bet on the Sportsbook. Free Bet stake not included in returns. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#6
Novibet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ | UK new customers only | KYC verified | Max £20 free bet | Min £10 bet | Min odds 7/10 (1.70) | Free bet stake not returned | Certain Markets/sports/payment methods restrictions apply | Qualifying bet must be made within 30 days | Free bet valid for 30 days | T&Cs and General Promotions Terms apply Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#7
 Betfair
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
New customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly.Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#8
 bet365
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ - Offer for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and Full T&Cs apply. Registration Required. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#9
 LeoVegas
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
Key terms - New players only. Claim by placing a min deposit £10 via "My Offers" page within 30 days. Skrill/Neteller deposits excl. 7 days to stake max £10 in-play. Max. extra winnings £100. 18+ | BeGambleAware.org | LeoSafePlay.com | Play responsibly! Full T&Cs apply BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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Online Betting in Italy Explained
Sports betting is one of the most popular forms of gambling in Italy, with the Italian sports betting industry seeing a huge growth in the last few years after online betting was legalised in 2006. There are physical betting shops all over the country, but the online betting industry in the country is rising in exponential numbers.
Before 2006, Italy was a no-go area in terms of online betting – the government had blacklisted over 500 online bookmakers to pave way for only two state-backed monopolies. However, after facing infringement proceedings by the European Union on the prohibition of non-Italian bookmakers, a decree was introduced in 2006, thereby liberalising the market.
Further developments have been made over the years to slowly but surely become more open to licensed betting sites within Italy. Although there are still many ways which the country can move forward, it has made major strides in the right direction. Currently, there are lots of online betting sites in Italy (both local and international) offering top-notch services, even resembling those in the United Kingdom.
Sports in Italy
Italy is one of the biggest sporting nations in Europe with a massive pedigree in many sporting events. Thanks to this, they play host to some of the biggest sporting events in Europe and beyond, which, being massive betting opportunities, will often be catered to by Italian bookmakers. These events include:
- Football: Serie A – Considered the fourth best football league in Europe and arguably the world.
- Tennis: The ATP Finals – The unofficial fifth Grand slam will be taking place in Turin until 2025.
- Rugby: Six Nations – Reserved for the six best European nations, Italy have an excellent rugby team but tend to struggle during the Six Nations.
- Golf: Italian Open – Previously part of the European Tour Rolex series, the Italian Open is the biggest golfing event in the country.
Is Online Betting Legal in Italy?
In a word, yes. Italy has come a long way to reach this point, however. Prior to 2006, betting was essentially illegal bar from a couple of state-owned businesses for sports and horse racing.
Following an inquiry by the European Union which found that Italy had blocked well over 500 betting sites from operating in the market, the Italian government were forced to change their ways.
After much deliberating, in March of 2010 a new law was officially passed by the government. This new legislation allowed for operators in the European Union and beyond to begin operating in Italy for the first time.
However, it's not quite that simple, because in order for a bookmaker to actually offer its services, it must first apply for an Italian licence. These are issued by the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli, which is responsible for regulating the industry.
There are a number of requirements for bookmakers to comply to in order to be eligible for the permit, including keeping a high level of security, a certain amount of revenue production within Europe, and of course a payment to the authority of €350,000.
Laws for Online Betting in Italy
As you can imagine, a lot has changed in the tax laws over the years to ensure that the betting sector is well regulated. In October 2022, the relevant Italian authority lowered the tax on retail betting revenue to 20%. As a result, online bookmakers will now have to pay 24% of their gross betting revenues.
In recent years, the betting business in Italy has suffered a financial setback due to a 2019 advertising law. The so-called “Dignity Decree” prohibits all forms of advertising for gambling companies, including jersey and stadium sponsors, meaning that both betting companies and sports clubs have lost contracts and potential revenue.
Choosing a Good Online Italian Bookmaker
Here are a few factors that you should keep in mind when choosing an Italian betting site:
- Choosing a good bookmaker is an important decision when betting in another country. In this case, we advise choosing a site based in Italy or at least one that is very popular among Italian punters, as these would be up to date with laws and regulations and can offer better odds on local sporting events.
- You should also look for bookies which offer the best odds on the market, as this is highly essential to enhancing your winnings. Your profit margin is tied to how competitive your odds are, so comparing and contrasting different sites for the prices they have available is not a bad idea.
- Choose a betting site which accepts the euro as a currency option to avoid paying for exchange rate fees.
- Consider an Italian bookmaker which offers plenty of promotions. Most of the sites listed on this page all come with a variety of bonuses, making for a superior betting experience.
Popular Payment Methods for Italian Bettors
There are several ways which bettors can deposit and withdrawal funds with an online Italian bookie, with most, if not all forms of payment methods available to local punters – depending on the site in question, of course.
The most preferred method for betting in Italy takes the form of debit and credit cards issued by Mastercard and Visa. Also popular are e-wallet platforms like NETELLER, PayPal, and Skrill, while other options such as Trustly and paysafecard are widely used too.
Being the national currency, the euro is the most widely accepted medium of exchange across local betting sites. It should be noted that deposits and withdrawals are free of tax, meaning there are no extra charges on your winnings.
Live Betting in Italy
Live betting is available in Italy, and practically works more or less the same way as it does in the United Kingdom.
Livestreaming
Livestreaming on the other hand isn’t as widespread as live betting. Due to broadcasting rights, options may vary from one operator to another. Therefore, it’s a good idea to check out the specific offerings of any site you are interested in before signing up.
How To Bet Online in Italy
Betting online in Italy is as simple as betting in the UK, with a typically safe, quick and easy process involved. Simply follow the steps below to get started:
- 01Selecting your bookmakerThe first step is actually choosing the bookmaker, so this article should come in handy here! As previously mentioned, the sites we have recommended above all offer some amazing products - it is up to you to choose the one or ones which are best suited to you.
- 02Create your accountAll you have to do in order to create an account is provide your basic details, including your address, mobile number, and username. You’ll then need to submit some form of verification for your details, such as a copy of your ID card, driver's licence or passport.
Note: Some bookies may ask you to choose a welcome offer at this stage.
- 03Welcome offer and Depositing fundsAt this point, you should make your first deposit ensuring that it is eligible for the welcome bonus you’ve chosen. This will be easy to do, as Italian betting sites accept a great deal of deposit and withdrawal options which we covered earlier in this article.
- 04Place your bets and withdraw your winningsThe best part of the process, you can begin betting on any sports or event on offer, make sure to use any promotional offers which may be available. Withdrawals are the same as deposits but there may be some changes in what services can be used to make withdrawals.
Sports betting in Italy is enormous with an estimated €1.17 billion made in revenue for online fixed odds and card games sector. Italians love their football betting sites and wager on football a lot, despite the fact that a significant amount of people also bet on volleyball and basketball.
Betting in Italy does not require any extraordinary strategy as the normal rudiments of picking a sporting event, wagering on your preferred betting lines and then executing the bet are mostly universal. If you are new to betting, you should to stick with more familiar betting markets until you gain enough experience to get involved in complex markets.
Other Country Betting Guides - Click Each Flag To Learn More
Australia
Brazil
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
France
Finland
German
Greece
Hungary
Hong Kong
India
Ireland
Netherland
Nigeria
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
SA
Ukraine
UK
USA
Best Italy Betting Sites FAQs
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Snai, Eurobet, and Marathonbet are among the best betting sites in Italy.
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Yes, online betting is legal in Italy. The Italian government has an institution totally dedicated to licensing and supervising betting activities both online and on land.
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The euro, being the local currency, is widely accepted by online betting providers in Italy; however, when using international betting sites, other currencies will also be accepted.
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The most preferred payment methods for betting in Italy are debit and credit cards issued by Mastercard or Visa, though other e-wallet platforms like NETELLER, Skrill, Trustly and paysafecard are also widely accepted.
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No, deposits and withdrawals with online bookies in Italy are tax-free, so there is no income tax on your winnings.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
Notwithstanding the similarities between sports betting in Italy and in the UK, it is important to always read and understand the terms and conditions of your preferred bookie before signing up. If you come across something new and do not understand anything, you can contact the customer service of your betting site for clarity before proceeding. A lot of popular and international betting sites are operating in Italy, so be sure to go by this guide when choosing the best bookmaker that suits your needs.
Jeremy is a die hard Evertonian and a massive sports fan. If he’s not watching Everton, he’s either playing football or watching whatever sport he can find on TV. With a keen interest in sports betting, sports writing is a match made in heaven.
