Eurosport betting company SPS shelves Italy launch
Eurosport betting and gaming division SPS Betting has postponed its plan for an Italy launch due to mounting concern about the pressure of Italian regulatory requirements.
EUROSPORT BETTING ANG GAMING division SPS Betting has shelved its plan for an Italy launch.
As revealed on EGRmagazine.com, SPS was to launch Italy-facing Eurosportbet.it to gain experience in operating in a regulated market ahead of launching in its home market of France when regulation allows next year.
However due to increasing concern about the pressure of Italian regulatory requirements, the TV network’s egaming arm has shelved the plan in favour of launching a free-play website in France.
SPS Betting communications head Caroline de Fontenay said: “We have in fact decided to focus our resources on the French market, as we plan to make it our stronghold once legislation allows us to operate there next year.
“SPS will launch in Italy in due course, but the decision to hold back on it was because we did not want to have our technical staff split their times between integrating into the Italian regulator’s technical infrastructure and getting our French product offering ready, which is our priority. It would have meant a loss of focus.”
Eurosportbet.fr is the first time SPS has actively targeted France, although the site will remain free-play until the company is licensed next year. The site will offer weekly predictions on football matches, with a 1000 rollover jackpot and free-play poker tournaments offering real-money prizes.
Eurosportbet has also entered into partnership with Evian casino for the third edition of Evian Poker Open, from 24 October to 3 November.
SPS Betting entered the Power 50 leading operators this year at number 34 due to its media status and the fact that it has major French conglomerates backing it.