Playtech to launch sportsbetting site with Italian newspaper

La Gazzetta dello Sport has launched GazzaBet – an online sports betting portal and mobile offering developed in partnership with Playtech, the world’s leading international designer, developer and licensor of software and services for the online, mobile, TV and land-based gaming industry.

Timed to coincide with the new national and international football seasons, the sportsbook will offer an easy and secure way to bet on sports and events selected and approved by Italian regulator AAMS.

In a five-year deal, that includes an option to renew for a further five years, Playtech will manage the gaming platform and provide RCS MediaGroup with its innovative online and mobile sports betting and gaming software, products and marketing services under the brand GazzaBet.it.

GazzaBet sets out to meet the needs of all sports fans and will cover both Italian and international football, the Champions League and Europa League, Euro 2016 qualifiers, basketball, volleyball and other major sporting events, including Formula 1 and classic cycling races such as the Giro d’Italia.

The launch of GazzaBet marks RCS MediaGroup’s first entry into sports betting and provides a safe and transparent user experience backed both by the La Gazzetta dello Sport brand – a hallmark of reliability and integrity – and the technological expertise offered by Playtech. This also marks Playtech’s first entry into the Italian sports betting sector with its technology providing a cutting-edge alternative to the software currently being used in the market.

The online and mobile sportsbook offers a comprehensive range of advanced features, with a unique offering in the industry that includes up-to-the-minute sports betting news, detailed statistics and expert tips provided by a betting content specialist.  The mobile optimised site is designed to provide the best user experience on the market and caters for a wide range of devices and operating systems.

GazzaBet is an attractive proposition for fans, with new customer bonuses and spot promotions for all players – as well as some of the best odds on the Italian market – making the site the definitive choice in fixed odds and in-play betting online or on mobile. Customers can use any of the major payment methods to manage their gaming experience, while customer service will be available (in Italian only) by phone, web chat and email.

The decision to launch the site came in part from a recent survey carried out by research institute Gfk Eurisko that found a strong interest in online gaming among players and Gazzetta’s readers. 

Alessandro Bompieri, General Manager of RCS MediaGroup’s Media Division, said: “We are extremely pleased to be in a position to offer such a new service – within a regulated market – to our passionate readers, many of whom have been waiting for a sophisticated sports betting website for a long time. We are very proud of our offering and, as of today, of a portal like GazzaBet that is secure, protected and advanced thanks to the extraordinary experience of Playtech.” 

“GazzaBet is a further step in our pipeline of sports entertainment digital products and services and follows the successful recent releases of the Gazzetta Gold app and the new Gazzetta website,” added Bompieri.

Shay Segev, COO of Playtech, said: “This is a landmark deal for Playtech and cements our position as the leading supplier of sports and gaming technology and services in regulated markets.” “We are extremely excited to be partnering with such an iconic sports news brand and the potential it has to drive market growth for both parties,” Segev added.

GazzaBet will offer sportsbetting across a broad range of sporting disciplines.