Italian regulator offers boost to in-play operators

Italian regulator AAMS has made a crucial amendment to its bet settlement requirements enabling operators to offer a greater number of in-running markets.

The amendment relates to the Palinsesto Complementare – bets offered in addition to AAMS’ official schedule – for which operators were required provide the regulator with at least two sources of information for bet settlement purposes.

A number of operators highlighted that information on certain in-running markets, such as next corner betting in a specific time frame, was not always available through official sources.

However, AAMS has since told operators that where official results aren’t available, it will now consider “elements, news and information objectively verifiable” which will be judged by the regulator.

According to Giulio Coraggio, leading gaming lawyer at DLA Piper, the move could see the traditional land-based Italian operators fall further behind their foreign rivals in a market dominated by the likes of William Hill, Paddy Power, bwin and, more recently bet365.

“This apparently ‘minor’ change is expected to considerably foster the competition in the sports betting market on the types of bets offered by operators and might represent a substantial challenge for Italian operators that are not accustomed to these new types of bets, while representing a considerable opportunity for foreign operators,” Coraggio said.

The Italian sports betting market has enjoyed good growth in recent months spurred by last year’s introduction of the Palinsesto Complementare, this summer’s football World Cup and the arrival of bet365 in September.