Betsson enters Italy via JV with G.Matica
Swedish operator signs B2B deal with gaming division of IT company Alma Viva to power its Gbet.it website.
Betsson is to enter the Italian market through a B2B deal with the G.Matica gaming division of IT services company Alma Viva, which operates the Gbet.it website.
Betsson AB chief executive Pontus Lindwall (pictured) said the deal represented an important step by the Swedish operator in the newly regulated European environment. “Betsson views the Italian market as a good jurisdiction to operate within from a local licensing perspective.
“Our partner has a solid background in IT and gaming, as well as local knowledge of the Italian market, and Betsson contributes with valuable gaming know how and operations, which together will be a great foundation for success on the market”.
Gbet.it is currently licensed to offer sports betting and tournament poker in Italy, the latter powered by Ongame, the network on which Betsson’s poker sits in other markets. Italian gaming authority AAMS last week opened the application process for existing licensees to offer cash poker and casino into Italy.
According to data provided last month to eGaming Review by consultancy Trust Partners, the launch of poker ring games and casino could see turnover from Europe’s largest egaming market double by as early as 2012. Italian regulator AAMS released figures earlier this month showing that turnover from the Italian online market grew by 28% last year to 4.8bn, from 3.4bn