Stanley v Ministero (Monti tender 2012): Allegations, Court Orders and Status

What this case is about

C-463/13 Stanley International Betting Ltd and Stanleybet Malta Ltd v Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze and Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli di Stato is a judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (Third Chamber) on Italy's 2012 "Monti" betting tender.

It is one of the licensing and administrative court cases that test national licensing rules against EU law.

The Consiglio di Stato referred the question on 2 July 2013 in Stanley's appeal, and the reference was received on 23 August 2013. Stanley relied on Articles 49 and 56 TFEU, equal treatment and effectiveness.

It objected that the tender under art. 10(9-octies) D.L. 16/2012 offered 2,000 betting licences lasting 40 months, while earlier licences ran for 9 to 12 years.

Who is covered

The parties were the two Stanley companies, Stanley International Betting Ltd and Stanleybet Malta Ltd, against the Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze and the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli di Stato. Advocate General N. Wahl was assigned to the case.

The ruling affects operators bidding for Italian betting licences. For the wider EU picture, see gambling lawsuits in the European Union.

Is there a payout?

No payout exists in this case. It was a licensing dispute between operators and the Italian authorities, referred to a court for a ruling on EU law. The record shows no fund, damages or claim process for players.

What the court decided

As of 14 November 2026 the case is decided, with status judgment. The Court delivered its judgment on 22 January 2015.

It held that EU law does not preclude a fresh tender for licences with a shorter validity than earlier licences when the aim is to align licence expiry dates.

The Consiglio di Stato (Sez. IV) then rejected Stanley's appeal after its hearing of 2 July 2015. Stanley stayed outside the licensed network, and its CTD litigation continued.

The Italian proceedings have their own page, listed below. The Ministry's other cases are on the page for Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze lawsuits.

Why it matters

The judgment is a precedent on how states may time their gambling licences. A government can issue new licences with a shorter term than earlier ones when the purpose is to bring the expiry dates into line.

It belongs to a line of Italian betting cases before the EU Court. Other disputes between operators against regulators and states are collected on the site.

Questions people ask

What did the CJEU decide in C-463/13?

On 22 January 2015 the Third Chamber held that EU law does not preclude a new tender for licences with shorter validity, where the aim is to align expiry dates.

How long were the licences in the 2012 tender?

The 2012 tender offered 2,000 betting licences of 40 months, against 9 to 12 years for earlier licences.

What happened to Stanley's appeal in Italy?

The Consiglio di Stato (Sez. IV) rejected the appeal after the hearing of 2 July 2015. Stanley remained outside the licensed network.

Related cases

• Costa and Cifone, joined cases C-72/10 and C-77/10, are criminal proceedings decided as a judgment.
• Laezza, C-375/14, is a criminal proceeding decided as a judgment.
• Stanley International Betting Ltd and Stanleybet Malta Ltd v Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze is the Italian judgment on the same Monti tender, with 2,000 betting licences.