888 Sports Betting Site Begins Taking Italian Player Bets

As reported a couple months ago here at CGW, 888.com has begun to rebuild its business after pulling out of the U.S. market, their focus right now is developing a customer base for what they hope will be online Poker in the future.

Last year, 888.com pulled out of the United States market and it was thought that the company would either be sold or dismantled all together, now, after deciding to re-open, they have begun to take action from its Italian sports betting website.

Italy has long been in opposition of Internet gambling, but since European lawmakers have persuaded them to lighten their stance, they now say they will allow games of skill.

Many companies are waiting for a ruling on what exactly is a game of skill, but the thought is that the ruling will come down by the end of the year, and that Poker will be one of those games that is ruled a game of skill.

In the meantime, 888.com is currently taking sports wagers and preliminary estimations are that the company is expected to bring in between $5 to $10 million in 2008.

Chief Executive Gigi Levy told Reuters, "It(web site) will boost revenues but it will also build customer numbers so we are in good position next year when skill games we are strong in, like poker, are allowed." After taking the year off, it appears that 888.com is now putting themselves in position to return as a top online casino provider in the future.

October 16, 2007
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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