Poll: Is Italy becoming a more attractive egaming market?

eGR’s Online Gambling Briefing in Rome today, attended by the country’s biggest operators, comes at a time when a number of crucial regulatory amendments are set to change the face of Italy’s egaming market over the coming months and years.

Italy’s land-based establishments had initially dominated the market in the early stages following the legalisation of real-money skill games and betting exchanges in 2006 and of tournament poker and sports betting in 2007.

And while many foreign operators have since muscled their way into a market estimated to have one of the highest spend’s per capita on gambling in the world, several including Paddy Power, Betsson and William Hill have struggled to turn a profit within its complex and expensive framework.

But change is afoot and an overhaul of the country’s egaming regulation has the potential to make Italy a more attractive market to foreign operators.

Arguably the most important development is the proposed switch from the burdensome tax on betting turnover to one based on gross gaming revenue at a maximum rate of 20% for all verticals.

The new taxation regime is expected to come into force early next year, while a full liberalisation of the country’s online sports betting market is also on the cards including cash out and an increase of maximum winnings.

However it’s not all plain sailing and operators may still have to contend with a possible ban on gambling-related advertising and fines of up to €500,000 for those found to have violated the legislation.

With this in mind, this week’s eGaming Review poll asks whether Italy is primed to become a more lucrative market for operators than it has been to date. Have your say on the right-hand side of the page.