Betsson enters Italy through Joint Venture
Betsson has signed an agreement aimed at entering into a Joint Venture
together with G.Matica Srl in Italy. G.Matica is the gaming division of
Alma Viva, one of the largest IT companies in Italy, with over 20 000
employees. G.Matica holds an online gaming license on the Italian market
and operates online today through its site Gbet.it. The Joint Venture
shall further develop the online business within the Italian market.
Italy is the largest online gaming market in Europe, with an estimated
turnover of Euro 4.8bn last year and a growth rate of 28%. The gaming
authority, AAMS, published a new decree last Thursday, which allows
existing licensees to offer Casino and Cash Poker Games, making the
market even more attractive.
“With this Italian B2B-deal, Betsson is taking an important step in the
new regulated European environment” says Pontus Lindwall, CEO of Betsson
AB. “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”.
Betsson estimates that the Joint Venture will start generating revenues
for Betsson in the second quarter of 2011.
For further information, contact:
Pontus Lindwall, CEO and President, telephone +46 (0)8 506 403 10 or +46
(0)708 27 51 55, pontus@betsson.com (pontus@betsson.com)
