Italy

The stark reality of governance by a populist Lega and Five Star coalition is dawning on all Italian industry stakeholders as a draft law circulates of a ‘total ban on betting advertising’. This week the Italian Cabinet will review the draft mandate personally penned by Five Star leader and Italian Deputy PM Luigi Di Maio. Di Maio and Lega leadership …

Industry affiliate marketing network Catena Media enters the Italian online betting market confirming that it has acquired digital sports media publisher ASAP Italia for a total consideration of €16 million. Updating the market, Catena governance has put forward €12.5 million cash deal to acquire all ASAP portals and lead generation services. Furthermore, the Stockholm-listed enterprise will add ‘€3.5 deferred consideration’ …

Following public consultations with industry associations and legislative concessionaires, Italian regulator Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) has confirmed that it will push through new anti-money-laundering (AML) standards for the Italian betting sector. The ADM details that it decision follows, a 26% increase in online gambling AML alerts recorded by the Italian Financial Authority. Furthermore, the Italian betting regulator …

Italian online gambling trade association La Lega Operatori di Gioco (LOGiCO) has expanded its ranks welcoming SKS365 Malta and Kambi Group as new industry partners. LOGiCO seeks to represent the interests of licensed stakeholders operating within the burgeoning Italian online gambling market. Following last May’s general meeting, LOGiCO representatives moved to expand the trade body’s membership, allowing for Italian technology …

The tables have turned yet again for all Italian betting stakeholders, as the coalition of Lega and Five Star Movement, have been sworn in as Italy’s new government. On Friday new Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte convinced Italy’s constitutional President Sergio Mattarella, to accept a Lega-5 Star government, having restructured the populist coalition’s executive cabinet and finance ministry. Conte will now lead …

Last week’s failure by Giuseppe Conte Italy’s Prime Minister-designate to form a government has been met with relief by Italian betting industry stakeholders, yet angst remains as Italy faces yet another constitutional crisis. Leading the right-wing populist coalition of the Lega Nord and Five Star Movement, the only parties capable of forming a government, Conte was blocked by Italian President …

Gambling software development company Playtech has confirmed that it has received approval to buy a majority stake in Italian betting and gaming firm Snaitech SpA from the gaming regulator in Italy. The major industry supplier had agreed to buy a 70.6% stake in Snaitech back in April, for €846 million (£741 million). The deal is expected to close next month, and …

The governance of Playtech Plc has stated that it will continue to ‘explore further M&A opportunities’ to advance the FTSE firm’s regulated market growth strategy. Ahead of today’s corporate Annual General Meeting (AGM), Playtech governance details to its investors that it is making progress on both its ‘organic and M&A’ disciplines. During Q1 2018, Playtech Plc completed the acquisition of …

Online lotto operator Lottoland has announced that it has acquired a majority stake in one of the most popular lotto and online games sites in Italy, Giochi24. The Italian site has been operational since 2008 and was one of the first companies to get approval by the Italian regulator – Dogane e dei Monopoli. This partnership will combine both companies expertise …

April has been a consequential month for all Italian betting stakeholders, as leading industry technology provider Playtech Plc, increased its market presence undertaking the €850 million outright acquisition of SNAITECH technologies and retail betting points. Thus far this 2018, it appears that Italian betting is finally moving forward, as the market proves its capacity for both foreign and domestic incumbents. …