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Online Sports Betting in Italy
Online betting in Italy is a hugely popular pastime, with the Italian betting industry having gathered some serious pace over the past few years. Although most gambling activities were deemed illegal for many years, the Decree on Liberalisation (Article 38) of 2007 saw all forms of online gambling made legal. This gave Italy the freedom to develop its own regulated online sports betting market.
Italian gambling activities are now managed and regulated by the Agenzia Dogane e Monopolio di Stato, also known as AAMS. The organisation is regarded as one of the fairest regulatory bodies in global gambling, only issuing licences to operators that boast a proven track record and a determination to operate in a responsible fashion.
However, it wasn't until 2020 that the first set of Italian gambling licences were awarded. This saw 200 licences issued to vetted organisations. Now, Italian bettors have a whole catalogue of online betting operators to choose from, with both Italian-born brands and international operators providing gambling services in Italy.
Italian law states that players must be of the legal gambling age to place bets online. This is currently 18 years old.
Leading Online Betting Markets
Italy has and continues to play home to some of the most globally-recognised sports stars in history. This, paired with Italians’ passion for spectator sports, has seen Italian bettors develop an eclectic range of betting tastes. While most online betting sites will list 30+ sports betting markets as standard, here are the most sought-after:
- Football Betting: Football bets make up a significant chunk of the bets placed in Italy. With Italy being the home of teams with a worldwide following, football is sewn throughout the tapestry of Italian culture. Whether you wish to place bets on the Italian national team, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus or a team in the Premier League, your chosen betting site will provide you with the odds and markets you are looking for. What's more, all leagues and competitions are covered, from the La Liga and Bundesliga to the Premier League and Ligue 1; Italian betting sites are truly all-encompassing.
- Rugby Betting: Rugby betting is highly in demand in Italy, with many of the top online betting sites launching rugby-based promotions and incentives. As well as providing betting opportunities on rugby matches taking place in Europe, the majority of betting providers will carry odds from games and tournaments taking place across the globe!
- Basketball Betting: Italy is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to basketball talent. The men's national basketball team won gold at the 1983 and 1999 Eurobasket and silver at the 1980 and 2004 Olympics! This love for the game is supported by Italy's betting operators, with almost every site in the country offering basketball betting as a service. If you are looking for the best LBA and NBA match odds, we highly recommend checking out Bet365!
- Tennis Betting: Italian sportsbooks take a comprehensive approach to their tennis betting services, with online bettors able to explore hundreds of tennis betting markets throughout the seasons. With names such as Andreas Seppi and Fabio Fognini originating from Italy, betting on tennis is understandably of interest to Italian bettors.
- Boxing and MMA Betting: Boxing and MMA betting has gathered momentum across the globe. With new organisations formed and a generation of new and exciting fighters coming through, more and more fighting action is being televised. From heavyweight boxing to action in the hexagon, Italian bettors are inundated with MMA and boxing betting options. Other sports betting markets found on Italian online betting sites include baseball, golf, Olympics, racing and more!
- Alternative Markets: Alternative markets refer to betting markets that sit outside the remit of popular sport. Many betting sites in Italy will provide players interested in eSports, futsal, curling and even politics the chance to make betting predictions.
Qualities of a Great Italian Sports Betting Operator
When comparing Italian online betting sites, there are a few qualities that are simply a must. Below, we look at the aspects making up the top betting sites in Italy.
- Live Betting: Most online sports betting sites in Italy will offer a live betting facility. This gives players the freedom to place bets at any point during a sporting event. Italian sportsbooks offering live betting options include the likes of BWin, Bet365 and William Hill Italy.
- Competitive Offers: Betting sites with juicy bonuses are worth looking into. Italian bookmakers tend to offer a variety of offers to suit all players. These include sizable welcome bonuses, free bets and incentives for regular account activity.
- Safe Gambling Services: The more attention a betting site pays to safe gambling, the better. Betting operators operating in Italy will need to meet certain requirements around safe gambling in order to be issued with a gambling licence. Most will feature a page entitled ‘Responsible Gambling’. Here, players can access the safe gambling tools and information available to them.
- Betting Site Design: While you may not think the way a site is designed is anything to look into, in this case, looks are everything! A site that is easy on the eye and designed in a way that is easy to navigate is ideal! This is because if a site is simple to use, it enhances your experience as a bettor.