The Italian Gaming Authority has launched the call for tenders on the so called "instant lotteries". Instant lotteries include "paper scratch cards" that can now be purchased in almost any tabacco shop in Italy (even though they can be sold also abroad) and "online scratch cards" which are accessible on the websites of any licensees. Players scartching the paper or…

The recent decision of the European Court of Justice (see  Landmark Decision of the ECJ on European gaming monopolies ) in the Bwin vs. Santa Casa dispute might have considerable side effects on the online gaming business. The court held that overriding reasons in the public interest justify limitations set forth by local gaming laws…

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued yesterday its decision on the dispute between the Austrian gaming operator, Bwin, and the Portuguese gaming monopolist, Santa Casa de Misericòdia de Lisboa (Santa Casa). The dispute concerns Bwin’s sponsorship of the Portuguese professional football league which Santa Casa had challenged stating that the…

Italian newspapers report today the information about the potential acquisition by Bwin, the listed Austrian gambling company, of Gioco Digitale, one of the biggest Italian licensed gaming operators which has been recently active especially in the skill games sector. According to the press, Bwin will pay € 90-95m for 100% of…

After several years of disputes, the Italian Supreme Administrative Court (the "Consiglio di Stato ") has issued a preliminary ruling in favour of Stanley International ordering the reopening of Stanley's betting outlets in Italy. Indeed, since 1994 Stanley International has been running in Italy betting outlets involved in the…

The Italian gaming authority has sent to the EC Commission the draft decrees regulating (i) videolotteries and (ii) cash games and fixed odd games of chance . The EC Commission will have now a 90 days period to raise any relevant comment or request of amendments. Prior to expire of such term…