Only a few days after the installation of online Poker sites in Italy was legalized, the numbers are showing very positive results in terms of use and revenue, and operators are already previewing that 500,000 Italians will be playing Poker online in the next 12 months.

During the first week of the experimental period (which took place between September 5th and 7th), when it was only allowed to play for 3 hours a day (from 2 to 5 pm), Microgame and Gioco Digitale, two of the new online Poker companies authorized, reported large revenues, and ever since authorities permitted operators to extend their hours from 8 am to 8 pm every day, the activity and the traffic to this websites has intensified.

The Italian Financial Ministry predicted that Online Poker and other games will represent 400 million Euros during the first year, 3% of this money will go directly to Treasury coffers. The stipulated cost for participation was established by the government between a minimum of 0.50 Euros and a maximum of 100 Euros and at least 80% of the money collected should be paid out as winnings, leaving operators with a maximum rate of 17 percent.

According to investigations made by the companies, many of the new players are visiting the sites attracted by the Poker games which are aired late at night in channels such as Sky Italia, but the study has also showed that 70% of the players are former users of overseas websites.