SKS365 leapfrogs bet365 as Italy’s top online betting operator

SKS365 has shot ahead of bet365 in the September rankings for Italian online sportsbetting market share, following changes to the country’s regulated market.

Figures published by Italian gaming news outlet Agimeg.it show Austria-based SKS365 with a market share of 14.93% for the month, ahead of long term leader bet365 on 12.99%.

The results are likely due to a change in regulation that saw the authorisation and tracking of internet cafes that connect to foreign-licensed gaming sites, otherwise known as CTDs.

SKS365 owns a substantial amount of CTDs which immediately propelled the operator up the charts, along with the full launch of its flagship online brand, planetwin365.

Goldbet is another operator to have significantly benefited from the legalisation of CTDs after its market share tripled to 5.81%, seeing it overtake operators including bwin, Paddy Power Betfair and Lottomatica.

Home-based Snaitech came in fifth on the list with 9.44% of the online market but dominated the retail rankings, capturing an 18% share.

Agimeg.it also reported that online betting revenue in Italy has gone up 31.4% to €48.1m from €36.6m in September 2016, with the CTDs again accounting for a significant chunk of the growth.