Italy-facing online gambling operator Betuniq is set to relaunch online operations later this month, local media reported. Vincent Saviano, CEO of Italian gambling group Vincitù, was quoted by local news publisher AGIMEG, saying that the Betuniq site will go live within a fortnight and will offer sports betting, poker, and live casino options.
Betuniq players will also be able to top up accounts at brick-and-mortar points. However, they will not be able to withdraw money at those. Withdrawals will still be available via credit cards and bank transfers.
Betuniq was shamefully banished from Italy’s regulated iGaming market last summer after former CEO, Mario Gennaro, was arrested for alleged links with the Italian organized crime. In July 2015, Italian police raided 1,500 parlors offering Internet gambling options and took 41 individuals (with Mr. Gennaro being among those) into custody. The affected parties were alleged to have been working with the ‘Ndrangheta, known to be a powerful organized crime group. As many as 82 gambling websites, including Betuniq, were closed as part of the police raid.
Betuniq was owned by Uniq Group Ltd., a gambling company based in Malta and licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority. Following the announcement that the online gambling brand was under investigation, the gambling regulator suspended its license for the provision of iGaming options.
Late in August 2016, it became clear that Mr. Gennaro has contributed significantly to the police throughout the course of the investigation and due to this the Betuniq brand would be allowed to return to the Italian market and Mr. Gennaro himself will be allowed to return to the gambling company. However, he will not be able to retain his previous role. He cannot have any contact with the brand’s gambling customers and his work at the group will be confined to marketing and strategic planning posts.
Here it is also important to note that the Betuniq gambling website will now be licensed by Italy’s gambling regulator, Agenzia delle dogane e dei Monopoli (AAMS). The brand is owned by Poker & Bet Ltd., subsidiary of the above-mentioned Vincitù Group.
While Betuniq is preparing to enter (or rather re-enter) the Italian market, it became clear earlier this week that online gambling giant bet365 is still holding the biggest market share there. The group’s Italian website generated turnover of €129 million in September. All Italy-facing websites posted overall turnover of €369 million last month.
