ADM clarifies online gaming rules: mandatory single “.it” domain and a full ban on redirects
The Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) has issued a circular with significant implications for the entire remote gaming sector, providing precise guidance on the digital framework that licensees will be required to adopt. The measure stems from the implementation of Legislative Decree 41/2024, which reshapes the entire licensing system for online gaming in Italy. At the core of the reform is a clear requirement: every authorised operator must use a single “.it” top-level domain, fully registered, managed, and controlled by the licensee itself.
This development, like many others introduced under the new framework, marks a turning point in how online gaming is presented to users and how it is monitored by the State. Multiple portals, parallel domains, “skin” brands and any indirect access to the licensee’s main website will disappear. The sector now enters a new phase – more orderly, more traceable and more closely aligned with the goal of transparency.
A shifting regulatory landscape: the overhaul of remote gaming
The overhaul stems from Article 6 of Legislative Decree 41/2024, which governs the operation of remote gaming and sets out the requirements needed to obtain the new licences. The decree introduces a more stringent framework, based on licences lasting up to nine years, strengthened compliance obligations, greater emphasis on KYC/AML processes, stricter technical standards and a tougher system of penalties.
Within this new framework, the use of a single “.it” domain is not a minor detail but one of the central pillars of the reform. The objective is twofold: to provide greater clarity for consumers and to enable ADM to exercise more direct and comprehensive oversight of licensee activities.
Mandatory single “.it” domain: what it means for operators
According to the updated Technical Rules, every licensee must:
- develop and manage a proprietary website;
- host the entire gaming offer exclusively under a single top-level “.it” domain;
- refrain from using any subdomains or third- or fourth-level domains that allow access to gaming services.
ADM clarifies the scope of the rule with practical examples. If a concession is authorised, for instance, for the domain www.alfa.it, the following addresses are considered prohibited: www.sport.alfa.it; www.calcio.sport.alfa.it; www.account.alfa.it.
All automatic redirects from any additional domains attributable to the same operator or corporate group are equally forbidden. It is therefore not permitted for a site such as www.beta.it to lead users to the authorised domain www.alfa.it. Any alternative or parallel access point is considered an attempt to circumvent the exclusivity requirement established by the decree.
The transitional period and the end of “skins”: towards a unified digital market
The tender for the new licences has already outlined the boundaries of the future market. The 46 operators that have obtained a licence will be required to comply with the new rules during the six-month period following the issuance of their concessions. During this transitional phase, certain parts of the previous 2011 technical rules will remain temporarily in force, with one exception: all provisions relating to the website will take effect immediately.
This means that the sector is bidding farewell to the skin system, which in recent years had fragmented the Italian market into hundreds of sites linked to a single primary licence. The shift to the “one licence – one domain – one brand” model will lead to a drastic reduction in active portals, a consolidation of the overall offer, and greater recognisability of licensees in the eyes of players.
Redirects and parallel domains banned: a more transparent ecosystem
The ban on redirects is one of the most impactful elements of the ADM circular. The logic is straightforward: the licensee’s entire digital ecosystem must be unified, without alternative pathways that could create confusion for players or hinder regulatory oversight. The aim is to ensure:
- a single official portal for each operator;
- a unified, easily verifiable gaming environment;
- improved traceability of commercial, technical, and financial operations;
- a stronger line of defence against unauthorised sites that mimic or exploit legitimate brand names.
Stricter penalties for non-compliance
The licensing agreement establishes a robust system of sanctions. Failure to comply with the obligations relating to the single domain or the creation of unauthorised redirects will result in penalties ranging from €10,000 to €100,000.
These sanctions are crafted to be genuinely deterrent, particularly in a sector where technical and regulatory compliance forms the foundation of an operator’s credibility. Through these measures, ADM aims to ensure that every licensee fully respects the required digital architecture and that the entire market operates within a more orderly and controlled structure.
This article was first published in Italian on 28 November 2025.
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