Italian gambling outfit Snai and sports and betting data experts Betradar has teamed up to bring eSports betting to the Italian market for the first time.
The eSports bandwagon keeps on rolling only, this time, the wheels are traversing over Italian ground.
Italian gaming operator Snai has entered the market after partnering with the sports and betting data champions Betradar. The Italians will offer pre-match and in-play markets in the most significant eSports events in games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO), League of Legends (LOL), and Dota 2.
The announcement makes SNAI the first Italian operator to bring eSports betting to the country. Betradar has all the bases covered including live scores, all the stats you can eat, and even a dedicated eSports Live Channel courtesy of their relationship with the Electronic Sports League (ESL) giving you the ultimate in-play experience.
Snai CEO, Fabio Schiavolin believes eSports is a vital addition to a traditional sportsbook and that no bookmaker can ‘fail to ignore it.’ During the recent eSports Betting Summit representatives from Pinnacle Sports stated that betting volume had doubled in each of the past five years, and the industry is predicting eSports wagering to top $23bn by the end of 2020. So it’s not difficult to see why Schiavolin would make such bullish claims.
It’s a timely move for Snai in a market that seems to have more moves than a bowl of jelly. A few days ago, CVC Capital Partners acquired the Italian betting outfit Sisal Group after slapping a €1bn value on the company.
From the oldest company licensed by the Italian state to one of the newest. Amaya Gaming recently launched their PokerStars branded sportsbook, BetStars, in the country that looks like a high-heeled boot.
BetStars.it is currently operating in beta mode with limited action available on the top sports. Italian punters can only bet on the pre-match action with in-play kept at arms length for the time being. The move now allows Italian customers to access PokerStars poker product, casino, and sportsbook via a single wallet.
BetStars also offers odds on eSports such as CS: GO, Dota 2, LOL, and Starcraft II in their .com and .uk markets, so it should only be a matter of time before they follow Snai and offer their Italian punters the option to start filling up that $23bn kitty.
