Most Popular Bookies in Italy

People in Italy have been playing all sorts of games and placing unregulated bets since as early as the 16th century. The prediction practice was, back then, not distinct from various forms of gambling that Italians practiced. The same people who pushed sports bets could be found offering what is today known as casino games.

To understand the current state of betting in Italy, and more specifically esport betting, it is important to understand where it all started.

History of gambling in Italy

The word 'casino' was actually born in Italy. As early as the 15th Century, Italians had invented the game that is today known as Baccarat. It is also in Italy that the game of bingo was first played. The risk-affinity of Italians mentioned earlier is not just a new construct.

A game known as Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum was popular during the age of the Roman Empire. Legionaries were very fond of it and ended up spreading it across Europe as they went on conquests. The game is still present today, known as Backgammon.

The first gambling house opened in Venice in 1638. They called it the Ridotto. It was sanctioned by the government and open to all people. However, the amounts required to place wagers were so high that it became a preserve of the rich. The government was, as a result, able to partly control gambling. However, people ended up playing in other unsanctioned outlets.

For the past 12-15 years, online betting has been taking over from physical betting houses. The convenience of betting from a player's location and making payments online is satisfying. It has led to the growth of the number of people playing bets online.

It has also enabled live gaming where people bet on in-game events. This trend looks to continue evolving into the future. Live and 3D sampling, as well as simulation, will continue making online sports betting sites more popular.

The range of betting platforms and markets will also increase. Italian laws now allow people to bet in houses outside the country. More people will continue to flock to overseas providers and bet on games that are not traditionally popular in Italy.

Esports are taking a prominent role in sports betting going into the future. Increased and stronger internet connections in the 60-million people nation will also lead to an increased number of punters. Between 2020 and 2021, for instance, there was a 1.1 million growth in the number of people using the internet in Italy.

The government is also likely to take action to prevent online betting from getting out of hand. This new form of betting is still evolving; laws will need to evolve and adapt to it. For the next decade, the country will alter laws severally to control emerging forms of sports betting.

The availability of online esports betting has made betting easier. Punters can follow and bet on esports competitions and websites outside Italy. The relaxation of betting laws could not have come at a better time. Esports gaming/betting is among the very few industries that found a silver lining in the pandemic.

Italy has always been wary of the betting practice getting out of hand. Given the country's history in regaining a derailed system, this is understandable. However, some of the country’s cautious measures have at times seen it at loggerheads with the outside world.

In 2006, members of the European Union (EU) raised a flag complaining that Italy was locking out from its borders licensed betting operators from the bloc. This, they said, violated the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) provisions. An inquest was made into the allegations.

Italy's defense that the action was taken in line with its criminal laws was found unconvincing. The country was found guilty of failing to report more than 600 websites that it had blacklisted. They were ordered to lift such restrictions.

Since then, the country has moved several acts to help betting providers operate legally in the country.

Finance Act, 2007

It moved to legalize card games that require skill to win. To keep them under control, the act provided that such games would be played as tournaments. All stakes placed during the game were set at the same amount as the fee charged to enter the tournament.

Texas Hold 'Em became legal as a result. Card games like Punto banco remained banned as they were considered to be dependent on luck rather than skill and strategy.

Comunitaria Decree, 2011

This law opened the door for poker and other casinos to be played for real money. The provision changed from taxing total revenue to subjecting profits only to tax. Poker and casino games were taxed 20%. Horse betting, lotteries, and other skill games were taxed 3% of the tickets and buy-ins that they sold to punters.

The fairer taxation regime brought in more providers. This made the market more competitive as players had more options. The result was an increased number of players and overall greater revenue earned by the government. Gamblers also benefited as the law required that the limit for a poker buy-in was $250, down from the initial $1100. This helped players to avoid overspending.

2020 Budget Law

This law was mainly focused on online gambling. It eyed betting, sports betting, lottery, casino games. Providers of all these betting services are required to obtain a local license in Italy even when they have the same from other EU countries.

There are definite windows provided in law when interested providers can submit their license applications. During the window, there are 40 licenses that providers can apply for. The lowest price for an online betting license is €2.5m ($283m).

Foreign providers from within the European Economic Area can apply for the license which goes for nine years and is not eligible for renewal. The law also upheld the ban on gambling sponsorship and advertising. Esport regulation is categorized under sports betting in the Budget law.

JP Morgan statistics show that most Italians use mobile payments and apps to make payments. Apps allow players to make deposits and withdrawals for their bank accounts and e-wallets with great convenience. As a result, many online casinos in the country are adopting mobile payments as a means to make deposits and withdraw winnings.

Betting sites' reports show that most players use cards to make transactions. The most popular cards are MasterCard and Visa. These are loved because of their general acceptance in most betting sites and other merchant sites.

They are safe, secure, and part of most Italians' everyday lives. Their connection to players’ bank accounts means that players can access funds to use in gaming sessions at any time of the day.

There is also remarkable use of e-wallets in the country. PayPal and Trustly are key players in this field. These methods have gained traction because of their low cost of transactions. In most online casinos, depositing from e-wallets is free. They are also fast in both deposits and withdrawals.

Their provision of converting currencies in real-time makes them even more convenient. Major e-wallets have also established regional support centers that help players to solve arising issues with swiftness and conclusively.