Italian online and land licences for Will Hill, Ladbrokes

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WILL HILL AND LADDIES GET THE ITALIAN NOD

Licences for sports and horse betting granted

The William Hill and Ladbrokes betting groups are ending 2006 on a high note with the news that both companies have been granted licences for sports and horse betting over the Internet and the phone in Italy. The awards were confirmed by the Italian state betting agency AAMS.

Both companies also won new licences for horseracing and sports betting at betting centres throughout the country as well as at franchises in venues such as bars, cafes and newsagents, the AAMS reported on its Web site.

A Ladbrokes spokesman said the company would continue to acquire new licences in Italy. "Ladbrokes' strategy is to establish an Italian retail estate through both new licences awarded in the tender process and acquisition of existing centres," he said.

Ladbrokes' licenses include 33 for horseracing, 58 for sports betting at betting centres and 51 for franchises.

Austria's bwin.com said it had not sought licences in this tender as it already owned a licence for online sports betting in Italy and was not looking for licences for betting centres.

However, bwin said it would be interested in winning an Italian licence for online poker and casino gambling.