Italian sports betting up 23% in 2014
Italy's online sportsbook market finishes the year on a high as December betting stakes rise 65%
Italy’s online sports betting market is on the up after posting a 23% rise in stakes across 2014, eGaming Review has learned.
The vertical, which has enjoyed something of a revival over the past 12 months, finished the year on a high with December’s sports betting stakes up 65% year-on-year to 188m.
And this strong end of year contributed to full-year stakes of 1.6bn, comfortably more than the 1.3bn posted in 2013.
The upturn in Italy’s sportsbook fortunes can be attributed to a number of factors, primarily a range of liberalisation efforts enacted by the regulator, including the introduction of a wider range of bets – the palinesto complementare.
These moves have led to a more attractive market for foreign operators, with the likes of Paddy Power, bwin and William Hill all competing against leading indigenous brands such as Lottomatica.
Meanwhile, the arrival of bet365 in September had an instant impact on stakes, with the operator quickly gaining market leading status – November’s figures reflecting a 25%-30% market share.
The market is set to be boosted by the addition of more operators in 2015 with Sky Bet preparing its entry and sportsbook supplier Kambi Sports Solutions, which powers the likes of 888 and Unibet, said to be working on an Italian version of its product.