Bwin Interactive Signifies Intention to Buy Gioco Digitale

Bwin Interactive Entertainment announced on September 23rd, 2009 that it will acquire Gioco Digitale, one of the leading online gaming and poker operators in Italy. Gioco Digitale earned a total income of $20.1 million euros or $29.4 million in the 1st half of 2009, which is bigger compared on 2008, when it earned a total of $13.7 million euros or $20.1 million.

The agreement represents an important gain for the well-known Austrian-based web gambling organization, which has long set its sights on the Italian gaming market. On January 2009, Bwin became the first online gaming organization to receive permission from the gambling regulatory in Italy to feature real-cash skill games like backgammon, blackjack, 3-card poker, eight-ball billiard, solitaire and others.

Bwin, which started in 1999, already had considerable presence in the country of Italy dues to its sponsorship of respected soccer club AC Milan. Italy is considered as one of the most lucrative gaming markets in the European Union. The value of wagers in Italy rose to 10.8% in the 1st half of 2009, compared to the same time the previous year, reaching a total of 26.3 billion euros or $38.5 billion.

October 04, 2009