If you’re looking for online casinos in Italy, you shouldn’t waste time on less-than-perfect IT casino sites! Among the numerous options available, ADM licensed casinos stand out due to their rigorous regulatory standards and high-quality gaming experiences. Many popular real money gambling options are available in Italy, and we’ve gone to great lengths to find the best (a-z):
- Snai
- Lottomatica
- Giochi Digitale
- Pokerstars
- NetBet
- Casino ViP
- CasinoMania
- Casino TOP
- StarCasino
We also know that there are many different things you look for in Italian-friendly casino sites, and we wanted to make sure we covered as much ground as possible so you can find what you need.
This guide offers a detailed overview of all the essential information related to Italy’s online gambling sites and provides accurate info on the best casino games, bonuses, payment methods, and gambling regulations in the country to ensure that your gaming experience is smooth.
Let’s jump right into it!
Playing at Online Casinos in Italy
Even though gambling has been a popular pastime among Italians ever since the Roman era, this south-central European country had long resisted legalising land-based and online casinos. However, this changed in 2006 and 2010, when new gambling laws entered the scene and decriminalised most forms of gambling.
Italy’s official gambling regulatory body, Agenzia delle Dogane e Monopoli (ADM), has since issued dozens of operating licences. As a result, many Italian and European gambling businesses can now offer legal services to Italian gambling enthusiasts.
Best Italy Online Casino Games Overview
After Italian gambling laws changed, many well-established European online casinos became available to players from this country. Industry giants like Betfair, Betway, LeoVegas, and William Hill entered the market and started offering diversified gaming portfolios, covering all the most coveted casino game categories.
There are currently several types of casino games available to Italian players. Learn more about each below.
Online Video Slot Machines
Slot machines have come a long way from the original 19th-century one-armed bandit “Money Honey” created by Bally Manufacturing ( later renamed Bally Entertainment). Once the digital version of the game was introduced, software developers finally got the chance to play around with themes and visuals, game mechanics, and unique bonus features, creating thousands of titles we have on offer today.
Whichever casino you choose, you will definitely be spoilt for choice when it comes to playing slots online. Most gambling operators offer everything from classic 3-reelers to a selection of modern European slot games with advanced megaway mechanics and bonus buy features. Some of the most well-known iterations of the genre include Starburst, Bonanza, Book of Dead, Gonzo’s Quest, and Immortal Romance.
Live Casino Games in Real-time
The breakthrough of live casino software at the beginning of the 21st century revolutionised the online gambling scene. It allowed software providers to stream casino games directly from their specialised studios or real brick-and-mortar casinos in Europe and worldwide.
Today, Italian casinos offer live games streamed by industry giants like Evolution Gaming, Pragmatic Play Live, and Playtech. You can join roulette, blackjack, craps, poker, baccarat, and other tables hosted by human dealers and play against multiple users in real-time.
In addition, players are offered to try their hand at popular Game Shows, such as Crazy CoinFlip, Crazy Time, Cash or Crash, Mega Ball, Dream Catcher, and Monopoly Live.
Computerized Video Poker
Although live poker games and tournaments will never lose their appeal, users also enjoy RNG computerized video poker variants designed for one player. These are especially suitable for poker beginners looking to hone their skills before joining a tournament or entering a live poker session. At the same time, experienced players can use their knowledge and skill to lower the house edge to under 1%, which makes video poker one of the most rewarding games ever.
The majority of Italian casino sites offer multiple variations of this game, the most common ones being Aces and Eights, Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, Jacks or Better, and Caribbean stud video poker.
Casino Table Games
Nowadays, it’s hard to find an online casino that doesn’t offer at least one RNG variation of each of the most popular card games. In fact, most websites with robust gaming offerings have multiple versions of roulette, baccarat, poker, blackjack, and even Sic Bo (a dice game). Their appeal lies in their high payout potential and wide betting limits welcoming a wide range of players.
Italian online casinos generally offer the following table games:
- Baccarat Punto Banco
- Blackjack
- Craps
- Roulette
- Three Card Poker
Miscellaneous Games
In addition to the gambling game options we’ve already mentioned, Italian casino websites can also offer specialised games, such as scratch cards, keno, and bingo. These are not as popular as online casino slots or live dealer games like roulette or blackjack — still, they can help you add variety to your gambling sessions.
Top Casino Game Providers in Italy
If you decide to register in an Italian online casino, you can expect to find the games from some of the leading Italian software developers, such as Octavian Gaming, Tuko Productions and Cristaltec Group, along with the top iGaming names worldwide:
- 1X2Gaming
- Betixon
- Betsoft
- BTG
- Capecod Gaming
- Cristaltec Group (cristaltec.it)
- Eurasian Gaming
- Getbet
- Habanero
- Iron Dog Studio
- Isoftbet
- Leap Gaming
- Merkur
- Microgaming
- Netent
- Novomatic
- Octavian Gaming
- Play’n GO
- Playson
- Playtech
- Pragmatic Play
- Red Rake Gaming
- Red Tiger
- SG Digital
- Tuko Productions (tukopro.it)
- Yggdrasil Gaming
Even though Italian players don’t have notable preferences regarding specific developers, they still have access to the titles produced by some of the biggest names in the casino industry (Novomatic, Netent, Microgaming, Play’n GO).
List of Italian Online Casino Bonuses
With new online casinos constantly entering the already crowded iGaming market, it comes as no surprise that operators keep coming up with enticing and generous promotions to incentivise players to sign up with them. In addition to these opening offers and welcome bonuses, Italian casinos also offer other regular promotions aimed at existing players.
The most common kinds of gambling promos you’ll see in casinos catering to Italian players include the following offers.
Bonuses for New Players (Welcome)
A welcome bonus is the most common offer you can see in Italian casinos. These bonuses are usually deposit-based promotions you can claim on your first deposit. For instance, you could come across a 100% match bonus up to €100, €200, €500, and sometimes even €1,000. In some casinos, you may be rewarded for your second and third deposit, as well — some operators may even offer bonus funds for the fourth and fifth deposit, though rarely. You may also receive a limited number of free spins you can use on selected slot games as part of the welcome bonus package.
Deposit-free Offers
Many players enjoy no-deposit offers, as they bring them bonus money or free spins without a deposit requirement. Still, there aren’t many casinos that offer these bonuses. Some operators may offer them after you have signed up to their website or completed a specific task, such as verifying your phone number or email address. Despite being easy to obtain, these bonuses usually have more significant restrictions and higher wagering requirements.
Second and Third Deposit Bonuses
Also known as Reload Bonuses are the most common promotion type available to returning players. These are similar to welcome offers — they also come with a minimum deposit requirement and usually consist of bonus money or a combination of bonus money and free spins. Unlike new player bonuses, though, these typically have a lower value and can, at some casinos, be claimed multiple times.
Cashback on Loses
Although gambling websites can’t guarantee that you will win, they can reduce the impact of your losses by offering cashback bonuses. Promotions like these give you back a percentage of the total losses you have incurred over the previous week or month. This bonus offer is usually available only at the best casino sites.
No Deposit Bonus Codes
In case you become a loyal player, your casino may send you a little treat in the form of free spins on slots or a small amount of bonus or real money. Such a bonus is often sent to players on their birthday as a small gesture of appreciation for being part of the site. Not all casinos offer this kind of bonus, so take advantage when you can.
Understanding IT Casino Bonus Terms
While bonus promotions can be an excellent pick-me-up when you need a boost to your gambling budget, they also come with specific terms and conditions. These include various restrictions and rules you have to follow to gain access to your winnings.
Some of the most common bonus terms in Italian casinos include:
- Deposit requirement – Most casino bonuses nowadays come with a specific minimum deposit requirement you must fulfil to gain access to bonus funds. The threshold is usually low, ranging from €10 to €20 in most cases.
- Play-through requirement – Also known as a wagering requirement, this bonus term comes in the form of a multiplier. It is usually applied to the cumulative amount of your deposit and bonus, and it informs you how many times you need to play through the value of these amounts to be able to withdraw your winnings. Wagering requirements vary among casinos and bonuses, but the industry standard is around 45x.
- Time limitations – After you have claimed the bonus funds, you will usually have limited time to use them. This period may vary — namely, it can range from 24 hours to a week or even a month. These limitations also apply to the wagering requirements, with most casinos limiting the period within which you need to fulfil them before forfeiting your winnings.
This is only a standard list of bonus rules, and they can vary from casino to casino. These can include winning caps, game validity, qualifying deposit methods, betting limits, and more. To get the most out of a bonus offer, make sure to read the associated terms and conditions carefully.
Loyalty and Bonuses for Casino VIP Players
For many online casinos, retaining existing customers is even more important than attracting new ones. As a result, most of the best Italian operators run VIP and loyalty programs designed to reward users for staying loyal to their services.
These programs usually consist of tiered systems. Each new level gives players access to more generous perks and prizes. Generally, customers can become members of such VIP programs after registering an account and spending real money on casino games.
By accruing more points, they will reach higher levels and claim greater benefits, such as dedicated account managers, more lenient withdrawal and bonus terms, personalised bonus offers, invitations to exclusive events, and even birthday gifts.
There are a number of great Italian-friendly casinos where players can get that bit of extra!
Italy Online Casino Payment Methods
The Italian casinos on our list are reputable gambling platforms. They all accept Euro and provide a wide variety of convenient and secure payment methods. Players can top up their accounts and withdraw winnings using the most popular credit/debit cards and e-wallets. Some of the most common options available on these sites include:
- Visa/Mastercard/Maestro credit and debit cards
- PayPal
- Skrill
- Neteller
- Paysafecard
- Solo
- Switch
- Earthport
- SafeCharge
- ePay
- Bank transfer
Italian gambling websites also allow the use of certain country-specific methods, such as CartaSi (Nexi) and PostePay. On top of that, some sites enable cryptocurrency options like Bitcoin and Ethereum, thus facilitating secure, fast, and anonymous casino transactions that come with no fees.
Withdrawal Times and Limits
You’ll need to wait a certain amount of time before your withdrawal is approved, depending on what payment method you’re using and the casino you’re playing at. Generally, online casino operators and payment processors tend to process deposits in a matter of minutes, whereas withdrawals often take more time.
A part of the reason why payouts take longer to finalise is that casino operators take between a few hours and a couple of days to review and approve your request. In addition to that, each banking option also has its own processing period. For instance, e-wallets and cryptocurrencies usually process transactions instantly, whereas credit/debit cards and bank transfers typically take several days.
Withdrawal Limits
The minimum and maximum amounts you will be able to withdraw from your account greatly depend on a casino’s withdrawal policy. Each operator has different rules; however, minimum withdrawal thresholds usually range from €10 to €30. Maximum withdrawal limits also depend on the payment method, and they can be anywhere from €1,000 to €100,000 per transaction. High-ranking VIPs at certain casinos can usually withdraw more than the usual limit.
Bitcoin (Crypto) Casinos In Italy
Cryptocurrencies have been on a rollercoaster ride in the last 10 years, from being an unknown entity to becoming a booming industry.
Pictured: price from Oct 2013 to Jan 2022, according to statista.com.
Increasing crypto acceptance in casino sites globally has also exacerbated their popularity in online gambling. Some casino sites accept crypto; some even offer their customers exclusive bitcoin bonuses and games. Right now, a few of the most popular crypto coins (and casino payment methods) are Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Tether (USDT).
Alternatives to Playing at Italy Online Casinos
Italy has five land-based casinos scattered around the country’s northern part.
Casino di Venezia: Ca’ Noghera
Casino di Venezia: Ca’ Noghera is an Italian brick-and-mortar casino located in Venice. This 5,000-square-foot venue houses 600 gaming machines and several blackjack, roulette, and Chemin de Fer tables. The casino hosts poker tournaments every week from Thursday to Monday.
Casino di Venezia: Ca’ Vendramin Calergi
Situated right on the Grand Canal of Venice, in the 15-century Ca’ Loredan Vendramin Calergi palace, this Venetian casino is the oldest gambling establishment in the world. This luxury locale houses around 100 slot machines and different varieties of table games, including blackjack, roulette, poker, and Chemin de Fer. Players also have the chance to take Lady Luck for a spin at the unique Fair Roulette table.
Casino de la Vallée at Saint-Vincent Resort
Casino de la Vallée is a popular gambling establishment located in the Saint-Vincent Resort in the northwest part of Italy. The casino provides a magnificent view of the surrounding Alps while also offering 600 slot machines and more than 100 table games. With 43,000 square feet, Casino de la Vallée is one of the country’s largest gambling institutions.
Italy Online Gambling Laws In Brief
Up until recently, Italy’s government imposed stringent limitations on gambling due to its concerns about the industry’s impact on the well-being of its citizens. However, in 2006, new laws decriminalised gambling activities on Italian soil and allowed foreign operators from the EFTA and EU countries to enter the market.
These changes were the result of the conflict between the Italian gambling legislation and the EEC Treaty guidelines. Consequently, the European Commission pressed Italy to change its laws and allow foreign gambling websites to offer their services to its citizens.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t until 2010 that the more lenient regulations took full effect. Since then, out-of-country websites have offered all kinds of gambling services, including sports betting, skill games, games of chance, tournaments, bingo, lottery, and more. The prerequisite, however, is that these casinos have a valid operating licence from Italy’s main regulatory agency — Agenzia delle Dogane e Monopoli (ADM), formerly known as Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS).
Only the most reliable operators can enter the market thanks to the strict eligibility conditions. As part of the licensing requirements, prospective online casinos must have a profit of at least €1.50 million during the preceding two years, be registered in one of the European Union countries, and have a consistently good track record, among other terms.
The number of online casinos that can currently obtain a licence from the ADM is capped at 200, and operators must pay an administrative fee of €350,000. Tax rates range from a measly 0.5% all the way up to 45%, depending on the type of gambling services offered.
Guides to online casinos in Europe, covering top sites, games, and regulation insights in 2023 by Onlinecasinoinfo.eu.