Online bingo in Italy back on course

Last month we had reported that the introduction of online bingo in Italy had been put on hold as a result of regulatory decisions. According to a report in the egr magazine the Italian regional court’s decision has been reversed making online bingo legal once more.

Italian players were given the opportunity to enjoy online bingo in December last year, however, their excitement was short lived. In February, regional courts in the Lazio region ruled that the approval of decrees that regulate internet bingo were not in keeping with Italian courts and banned the game.

It now appears that that Administrative Court of Appeal has ordered a temporary suspension of the Lazio ruling which means that online bingo operators are back in business until a final verdict is reached which is expected to happen on 23rd March. No doubt bingo operators targeting the Italian bingo market are rejoicing at this temporary relief.

Giulio Coraggio who is a gaming lawyer said: “The online bingo decree has been subject of considerable complaints from minor bingo operators which risk to lose a considerable number of players to the benefit of major operators like Gioco Digitale, that in the first months of 2010 raised more than €6m through the offer of online bingo.

"Equally, major bingo operators have already borne substantial investments for the launch of online bingo and cannot afford to lose them.” Italy is Europe’s largest gambling market and has been the target of many large gaming corporations who want the first player advantage in a virgin market.

Big boys like Playtech, who recently acquired Virtue Fusion, are keen on market expansion as is Bwin which purchased Gioco Digitale in September 2009. Party Gaming is another major contender in the Italian online bingo space as is Virgin Bingo who have spoken about an aggressive market expansion strategy.

Written by Anna Richards for Bingostreet – your source for the latest internet bingo news.