BoF addresses latest developments in Italian market

SBC Events will include an Italian flavour again at Betting on Football 2017.

(Press release).- Betting on Football, which is being held on 3-5 May at Stamford Bridge, has covered the Italian market every year since it started in 2014, with help from Italian lawyer Quirino Mancini, now at Tonucci & Partners. As the market further evolves and expands, SBC Events is presenting the personnel to address the balance between retail and online activity in the Italian gambling market.

Italy’s betting rules have been in constant development over the past decade or so with deregulation the theme. It has helped Italy become the biggest gambling market in Europe.

However, while increased sports betting and casino activity is driving solid growth, there is still a relatively low penetration in online and mobile markets. Horse racing and online poker have also experienced a sharp decline in profits.

SNAI CEO Fabio Schiavolin, AC Milan CCO Jaap Kalma and Francesco Carione, a senior RCS Media Group director and the publisher of Gazzetta dello Sport since 2013, will be headlining this first day #bofcon2017 panel.

The star-studded trio will be on hand to discuss the shift in the market, the opportunity for sports betting to continue its growth (€192m to €347m GGR from 2013-16) with a strong online and mobile focus, the potential for more industry consolidation to follow SNAI’s merger with Cogemat, synergies between sports, gaming and media, and how leading clubs in Serie A have reacted to falling behind European counterparts in terms of commercial revenue.

Schiavolin commented: “I am very proud to drive a company which can praise both a centenary experience and a smart digital technology. The renewed Snaitech, born from the integration of Cogetech in Snai, is launching innovative betting services as we aim to entertain our customers and gain their loyalty through our omnichannel products. We are ready to compete at an international level.”

Kalma commented: “Betting on football can enhance the enjoyment of watching a game, which is why the sports betting industry is a natural partner for football. AC Milan is interested in working closely with the sector in a sensible way that benefits our club and supporters. We are looking forward to sharing our ideas on the Italian market profile panel at Stamford Bridge.”

Part of a Market Profile track covering the globe at Betting on Football 2017, ‘Italy – developing with the market’, sponsored by Tonucci & Partners and moderated by Mancini, will also cover the reception of virtual sports within the country, and how a tendering process for the award of 120 online gaming and 15,000 betting shop/corner shop licenses will affect the market.

Mancini said: “It is going to be a great panel – the Italian betting market is one of the most vibrant in the Europe and with a new licensing round due to be called within the next few weeks, there are fresh opportunities for operators ready to enter a crowded and challenging yet also still dynamic and profitable market. Betting on Football is a great platform to discuss such developments with the cream of the international industry.”