Italy’s Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) has instructed ISPs in Italy to put a stop to 190 websites offering online gambling services without the proper licensing and permits.
The order was issued vide the Order No. 00540333 of 5 August 2026, providing a deadline of August 20 to the ISPs for the closure of those sites, including displaying a message from the ADM on their websites saying that the gambling service they offer to the Italian population is not authorized.
This new notice is an update of the ADM Stop List, last updated on July 10. The current order concerns websites that are providing services related to gambling that are not licensed in the Italian territory and is invoked under Article 102 of Decree-Law 104 of 2020.
A number of the newly banned domains are linked to the Russian gambling operator Fonbet that includes fonbet.com and fonbet-italy.com. The operator gained attention due to the latest public outburst of Andrea Pirlo who used to promote the operator in his capacity as a brand ambassador.
However, it’s worth mentioning that the ADM stop order and the controversy surrounding Pirlo are two different matters. Regulator’s decision is focused on whether gambling websites hold the authorisations required to operate in Italy, while debate surrounding Pirlo has also involved sporting, commercial and geopolitical considerations.
ADM’s latest intervention underlines its continued effort to combat Italy’s illegal online gambling market.
