Italian court rules against gambling regulator’s appeal
Italy’s highest administrative court has rejected appeals brought by gambling regulator Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) in a dispute concerning the application of new rules governing retail outlets connected to online gambling operators.
Two judgments published on November 6 upheld earlier findings that the immediate application of the new Points of Sale for Recharge (PVR) framework to operators holding technically extended concessions was unlawful.
The decisions concern proceedings involving Snaitech and Betpoint, which challenged aspects of the regulator’s implementation of the new requirements.
According to Italian gambling publication Jamma, the Council of State rejected ADM’s principal appeals while partially accepting counter-appeals lodged by the gambling websites.
The judgments, numbered 8104/2026 and 8107/2026, address the transitional application of the regulations and several substantive provisions governing PVR operations.
These include restrictions on cash deposits, permitted activities at retail outlets, contractual relationships with licensed gambling operators and prohibitions on equipment providing access to online gambling.
The court’s decisions come as Italy prepares to introduce revised technical requirements for online gambling operators on November 13.
Both Snaitech and Betpoint secured concessions through Italy’s latest licensing process, with their respective agreements signed in October 2025.
The Council of State also determined that additional challenges raised by the operators should not have been dismissed without examination simply because the lower court had accepted their arguments concerning the transitional arrangements.
The judgments represent a setback for ADM in its efforts to implement the revised retail payment framework.
However, the decisions do not invalidate Italy’s wider online gambling reforms, with the new technical requirements and applicable payment restrictions remaining separate compliance considerations.
