Italy’s Online Poker Players See partypoker Return After A 4-Year Hiatus

After a four-year hiatus, partypoker is finally returning to Italy! The online poker operator has now been given the green light to provide online poker games to Italian customers.

The license took effect on April 1, 2020 and partypoker wasted no time in getting its online poker room up and running.

Real-money players in Italy can now have access to partypoker’s various offerings, including cash games, tournaments, bonuses and promotions. The operator is also set to bring their flagship MTTs to the Italian market, the details of which will be announced in the weeks ahead.

With online poker enjoying a remarkable boost amid the coronavirus pandemic, partypoker’s Italian comeback could not have come at a better time. There has been a surge in online traffic as people observe quarantine protocols implemented by their respective governments.

Poker players and fans have now shifted online to continue to play, after several major live tournaments have been cancelled over health concerns. Italy in particular is among the countries worst affected by the current global health crisis.

Italian Market Remains Promising

In 2018, the Italian government approved a bill enforcing a blanket ban on all forms of gambling advertisements, direct and indirect, as well as promotional materials and sponsorships, to prevent vulnerable people from falling into the dangerous gambling trap. The ban has impacted the businesses of many gambling providers, however it did not discourage several brands from strengthening their presence as the Italian market continues to brim with so much potential.

partypoker’s Tom Waters said they are optimistic about their expansion efforts in Italy, despite strict gambling restrictions currently in place in the country. Waters promised to improve their offerings and provide a unique online gaming experience for Italian customers. Apart from online poker, the brand has also acquired a license to offer online casino games in the country.

Italy currently does not allow cross-border gaming, meaning local players are only allowed to compete against fellow Italians within the same territory. But there is real chance that the country agrees to liquidity sharing with other European markets including Spain, Portugal and France, and when that time comes, it will open the door for more exciting possibilities.

Amid the ongoing global pandemic, online operators around the world, including partypoker, have stepped in to offer an alternative platform for players to continue doing what they love. For April and May, partypoker has so far announced three major online tournaments, the 2020 Irish Open, the WPT Online Series and Poker Masters Online, in partnership with Poker Central.