Best 37 Online Casino​s in Italy

The advent of online gambling was quickly followed by a rise of smartphones and subsequently – mobile gaming. From 2010 onwards, mobile online gambling has been on an exponential rise. Fortunately, the online gambling industry has always been quick to adapt to changes, and mobile casinos quickly became a common occurrence.

As the number of mobile gamers continues to rise in Italy, nowadays every notable online casino is also available in a mobile variant accessible via web browser or through a standalone app. The best mobile casinos for Italian players must have a smooth-functioning mobile version, while also allowing players access to mobile deposits, withdrawals and customer support via live chat. Of course, the number of mobile games must also be at a satisfactory level. Italy’s main operators all have over 75% 4G network coverage across the country, meaning the majority of Italians can enjoy mobile online casinos through fast and stable data connections.

The country boasts 58%+ smartphone penetration, meaning more than half of Italians own a smartphone, or approximately 35,000,000 residents – to be more precise. The country’s most popular smartphone devices are Apple products such as iPhone models X, 6, 6S, 7 and 8. Samsung Galaxy S8 is also a popular choice among Android lovers, as are many affordable Huawei models, such as the P20, P10 Lite, P9 Lite and P8 Lite. As an Italian online gamer, you can make your choice between dozens of top-quality mobile online casinos, many of which are prominently featured on our web page.

As with any country boasting a long, rich history, gambling has been present in Italian society for centuries. In fact, first records date back to the Roman Empire, when Roman legionnaires enjoyed Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum, the basis of modern backgammon.

Many other games have originated out of Italy, though it is hard to say for certain whether they were influenced by other cultures. It is said that Baccarat was invented in Italy somewhere during the 15th century. During the same period, Italians enjoyed a game titled Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia, a game of chance with striking resemblance to bingo, which is why it is said that bingo was also invented in Italy. In 1638, in the city of Venice, the country’s first gambling house was opened. It was called Ridotto, where games like biribi and bassetta were both enjoyed. However, as the house edge in these games was too high, and only higher class citizens could realistically afford to play, Ridotto was banned in 1774. This only resulted in the rise of illegal gambling venues, called “casinos”. Thus, the word casino originates from Italy as well.

In modern times, Italian criminal law generally regards gambling as an illegal activity. However, sports betting and lottery are considered games of skill rather than games of chance, and are legal in many forms across the country. Today’s Italian gambling laws are surprising liberal, and even certain land casinos have been allowed to acquire a license. Yet, only 5 land casinos are present on Italian soil.

• Casino di Sanremo
• Casino di Campione d’Italia
• Casino Saint-Vincent
• Casino Venice
• Casino de la Vallee

The minimum gambling age is 18, and players are required to verify their identity with their personal ID upon entry into the casino. The casinos boast many table games in the likes of Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat and Poker.

In terms of online gambling, the market was greatly liberalized in 2006, when the European Commission found that Italy’s anti-gambling regulations violated the European Union’s 98/34/EC Directive related to provisions of information in fields of technical regulations. Because of this, in 2010, Italy made important amendments to their gambling laws, removing a total of 621 blacklisted gambling websites, and allowing foreign online gambling operators to serve Italian customers, as long as they had acquired a proper license. In 2011, another breakthrough was made, and new regulation allowed the legal play of poker and casino games for real money. Previously, in 2007, only poker tournaments had been legalized.

In contrast to many other European countries, Italy’s general gambling and online gambling markets are a notch above the rest, and we can expect even more progress on the future. Most certainly, the Italian government will look to capitalize on the tax benefits from the rise of online gambling, and an even more lenient legislation looks to be on the horizon.

In many cases, yes, casinos and even online casinos are legal in Italy. However, betting on off-shore online casinos licensed by the likes of the Malta Gaming Authority, Cyprus, Gibraltar, the UK Gambling Commission, and others, is illegal. Online casinos that aim to legally serve Italian customers must acquire a license by the Autonomous Administration of State Monopolies (AASM), Italy’s official gambling and licensing authority.

These licenses cover many forms of online gambling, such as:

• Games of Skill
• Casino Games
• Horse Betting
• Bingo
• Poker
• Poker Tournaments
• Fixed Odds Betting
• Solitaire Poker Games

Operators who seek to acquire a license by the AAMS, must manage games on European soil and boast a turnover of at least EUR€1.5 million over the past two fiscal years. They must also pay a one-time fee of €350,000 to the AAMS for “administration, supervision and technical management”.

The strictest rule of the AAMS is that the total number of Italian online gambling licenses cannot surpass 200, which puts a damper on many new online casinos looking to venture into the Italian market. Does this mean that you can’t gamble at sites not licensed by the AAMS? While this is technically illegal, no individual has been prosecuted for such an activity. Without exception, the Italian government only prosecutes operators, rather than players.

In the future, we hope to see further market liberalization and loosening of the AAMS’ strict licensing criteria, mainly by removing the limit of 200 total licenses. We are positive that things are headed in the right direction, especially when we consider how popular online gambling is becoming worldwide.

Italy has been the source of several popular gambling games enjoyed worldwide, yet the country does not hold too many preferences to one or two gambling games. Many players have varying preferences, and the general public enjoys many forms of gambling.

Bingo and lottery have been historically popular in the country, and remain as such to this day.Betting on sports is also prominent, especially since football is very popular in the country. Casino games in the likes of Blackjack, Roulette and Poker are prominently featured by Italian casinos and preferred by many gambling enthusiasts.

All of these forms of gambling can also be enjoyed online. Of course, Italians also love slot machines, and video slots in particular. Online casinos licensed by the AAMS have the liberty of offering Italian residents many forms of casino games and betting in general:

• Video Slots
• Classic Slot Machines
• Jackpot Slots
• Blackjack
• Roulette
• Baccarat
• Poker and Poker Tournaments
• Sports Betting
• Keno, Bingo, Lottery, Scratch Cards

The landmark decision by Italian authorities to form the AAMS led to hundreds of leading online casino brands acquiring a license of serving Italian customers. This means that your choices are virtually limitless, and as a beginner to the world of online gambling, you may be lost on where to play. This is why we’re here to help with our casino reviews. For this purpose, we will also go through the most important aspects we look at when reviewing Italian online casinos, and give you a brief overview of how these casinos generally fare on the market.

Security is most likely the primary concern for every newcomer to online gambling, even in this day and age. Simply put, we are not yet used to “blindly” putting our money in the hands of unknown entities. However, in the age of the Internet, there is no chance a shady online casino makes it to see the light of day, as information spreads like wildfire, and these casinos are quickly blacklisted by the community.

That’s as far as the community is concerned, but what should really put your fears to rest is the AAMS, Italy’s body for licensing and regulating online casinos. This state-run branch employs strict standards of fair play on all casino operators who aim to serve Italian customers, meaning it is virtually impossible for you to be scammed out of your money.

As Italian online casinos are licensed within the country itself, you also have the right for criminal prosecution in the case of wrongful treatment. More reason to put your worries to rest is the fact that the AAMS has the legal basis of handing out heavy monetary fines to any operator disobeying their strict terms on fair play and security. In extreme cases, operators may have their license removed, which they had to pay 350,000 Euros to acquire in the first place.

Naturally, all Italian online casinos are available in Italian, and offer the EUR as a primary currency. However, many of the casinos marketed to Italians are also available in English and other common European languages, if for some reason you desire to play in a different language.

The golden standard for all successful modern online casinos is live chat support, which all Italian casinos prominently feature. Live chat support means players can rest assured that their gaming sessions can go as smoothly as possible. Typically, when a customer requests help via live chat, response times are a minute or two. What’s more, support teams at Italian online casinos are professional, friendly and eager to help new and existing players alike. Many Italian casinos also boast customer support, whereas e-mail support is the bare minimum, with response times of 12 to 24 hours.

The repertoire of software providers is an excellent indicator of the type of gaming quality you can expect at any online casino. Italian online casinos are often powered by industry-bar setters in the likes of Net Entertainment, Yggdrasil, Play N GO, Betsoft, and Microgaming.

This means you can expect hundreds of well-paying titles that are the peak of quality of modern casino gaming in all aspects – aesthetics, payout potential and variety. Our review section always puts a strong emphasis on the gaming selection, highlighting all the good and bad aspects, to give you a clear picture on exactly what you can expect in terms of the games on offer.

Slot Machines

Slot Machines are by far the most popular game among online casino gamers. They come in several forms: Classic Slots, Video Slots and Progressive Jackpots. Classic Slot variants feature 3-reel structures, and they remind of the games being played decades ago. Still, these nostalgia-inducing slot machines hold up well to this day thanks to their simple mechanics and great payout potential.

Table Games

Table Games in the likes of Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, Baccarat and Poker are a staple inclusion of every Italian online casino. What’s more, besides the basic versions of these popular games, you can also come across dozens of unique game variants that can only be met in the online spheres of gambling.

Video Poker

Video Poker is a popular choice to many online gamblers, and many Italian online casinos prominently feature games such as Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better, Joker Poker, Aces and Eights, and similar titles.

Live Casino

The Live Casino is without a doubt the most immersive gaming experience one can attain while playing online. Italian online casinos, often powered by Evolution Gaming, offer live dealer tables of unparalleled quality. Powered by high-definition streams, professional and engaging table hosts, and a myriad of quality of life features, live dealer tables are something that must be experienced by every game of skill enthusiast.

Bonuses are often the number one factor players are drawn to when deciding which new casino to join, and rightfully so. Given the casino meets industry requirements of safety, the bonus will often be the difference maker for most gamers. Italian online casinos will often double your initial bankroll via the welcome bonus, but may also offer you reoccurring promotions in the form of free spins and cash back bonuses. Occasionally, you can also relish the highly sought-after no deposit bonus as well.

The welcome bonus is often the most valuable bonus you can claim at any online casino. This bonus will typically match your first, or first few deposits by 100% up to €100, effectively doubling your bankroll. In many cases, a casino will triple your bankroll and even offer much larger bonus sums, such as €500. However, pay in mind the wagering requirements when claiming a bonus. A €500 bonus may seem good in theory, but wagering it may prove an drawn-out process, even with fair wagering requirements.

Free Spins bonuses are pretty self-explanatory, and represent Free Games on a certain slot game of group of slot games that are later converted into bonus cash. Money won from Free Spins will need to be wagered just like any other bonus, with some exceptions. Free Spins are often paired with Welcome Bonus cash offers, or presented as standalone promotions during key events of the year.

No Deposit Bonuses are a rarity, but still available from time to time to Italian players. These bonuses require no deposit on the player’s part, meaning it is a completely risk free chance of winning money. Naturally, no deposit bonuses have strict rules in place, such as cashout limits (typically set at €100) and higher-than-usual wagering requirements.