DAZN has entered an agreement to acquire the media division of football streaming OTT competitor ELEVEN Group in a power play to dominate European football broadcasts. The deal, announced this morning, saw DAZN declare that it will become the “largest holder of European sports rights”, as its business will net a further 40,000 live events per year taking control of …
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ESA Gaming makes Italian debut with Sisal
ESA Gaming and Italian operator Sisal have entered into a partnership, further expanding the former company’s presence in Southern Europe. The agreement will centre on provision of ESA’s EasySwipe titles – the product range will make its debut in Italy via the integration with the Flutter Entertainment brand. This will include the sportsbook titles Goal Mine and Basketball Mine, with …
Read More »AGCOM toughens media monitoring on Dignity Decree rules
AGCOM, Italy’s media and communications agency has warned foreign and domestic media owners and affiliate publishers that Dignity Decree rules on gambling advertising must be obeyed. The warning comes as AGCOM confirms that it has fined Google Ireland Ltd a record penalty of €750,000 for allowing its YouTube platform to promote gambling-related content on its video channels. YouTube was deemed …
Read More »Flutter completes Sisal takeover to refresh its Euro vision
Flutter Entertainment Plc has this morning announced that it has completed its acquisition of Italian gambling group Sisal SPA for €1.9 bn (£1.6/$2.2bn). On 23 December 2021, Flutter declared to markets that it had secured definitive terms with US PE fund CVC Capital Partners to acquire all assets (lottery, online and retail) of the heritage Italian gambling group. The acquisition …
Read More »Lottomatica nets 6x EBITDA jump as new Italian powerhouse
An enlarged Lottomatica Group, formed by the merger of Lottomatica Scommese and GoldBet Italia, has declared a stellar H1 trading period. Having emerged as Italy’s largest betting group, Lottomatica reported a quadrupling of group revenues from 2021 results of €178m to €800m recorded during H1 2022. The 4X growth in headline revenues was attributed to the group’s enlarged retail portfolio …
Read More »Draghi exit sees Italy stumble on long-sought gambling reforms
Italian gambling’s regulatory affairs have been left in limbo following last week’s resignation of Prime Minister Mario Draghi, which signals the likely break-up of Italy’s coalition government. Chaos followed Mario’s resignation, as President Sergio Mattarella called for Parliament to be dissolved and for a snap General Election to be brought forward to 25 September – a year ahead of schedule. …
Read More »Fresh hope for Italian gambling reforms as Parliament ends licensing limbo
Positive regulatory developments in Italy have seen bookmakers end their licensing limbo, as Parliament has allowed concessions to be extended for a further two years until 2024. Italian ministers agreed to override gambling regulator ADM, the Customs and Monopolies Agency’s review of licence concessions that had been botched during 2021 – which saw the franchisees of Snaitech, Lottomatica, Sisal, SKS365 …
Read More »ADM orders Italian operators to drastically improve PVR management duties
Italy’s ADM, the Agency of Customs and Monopolies, has notified licensed operators and retail merchants that it will apply new measures to control Punto Vendita Ricarica (PVR) – retail points of sale for gambling concessions. The government agency charged with gambling regulation and oversight stated that it wanted to apply a better monitoring of PVRs offered by Internet cafes, bars, …
Read More »ADM ordered to clarify laws on esports gaming venues
Italy’s Agency of Customs and Monopolies (ADM) has caused uproar in the esports community by shutting down three ‘digital entertainment venues’ located in the North of Italy. The government agency that oversees gambling policies across Italy’s 20 regional provinces shut down the ‘three gaming halls’ that were deemed to have ‘lacked any form of authorisation, licence and concession’. The venues …
Read More »Italy’s fiscal ministries ponder 1% betting turnover tax charge
To the dismay of Italian bookmakers, Valentina Vezzali, Undersecretary for Sports, has secured a debate on the introduction of a fixed 1% tax on betting turnover. The Sports Minister is reported to have held a meeting with Italy’s fiscal ministries to examine a further tax rise on betting incumbents. In attendance were representatives of Italy’s Treasury and gambling regulator ADM …
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