Flutter to wind down Betfair Exchange and Sportsbook in Italy
Flutter Entertainment says regulatory changes have made the Betfair Exchange commercially unviable in Italy, prompting a full shutdown of the Betfair brand while Sisal, Snai and PokerStars continue operating.
Flutter Entertainment is closing down its Betfair business in Italy, discontinuing the Exchange, Sportsbook and Casino products, the company has confirmed to SBC News.
A Flutter spokesperson told the outlet that "recent regulatory changes in Italy have made the Betfair Exchange product no longer commercially sustainable," adding that the firm had "also decided to soon discontinue the Betfair Sportsbook and Casino product in the Italian market."
The move follows a broad overhaul of Italy's gambling licensing system, with a new regime for online betting and casino operators introduced in November 2025. Under the new framework, companies must hold a separate licence for each brand rather than a single licence covering multiple products.
Flutter currently needs individual licences from Italy's Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) to operate Betfair, Sisal, Snai and PokerStars in the country. SBC News reports it is not clear whether this specific licensing change, or another element of the new rules, is what has driven the decision to shut Betfair. Exchanges such as Betfair now fall under fixed-odds betting regulation in Italy.
Flutter said the affected business represents a very small proportion of its Italian revenue and that the closure will not affect its other brands or staff in the country.
Despite the Betfair exit, Flutter retains a substantial footprint in Italy through Sisal, Snai and PokerStars. The Southern Europe and Africa region, which includes Italy, was Flutter's third-largest region in the first half of 2026, with revenue rising 36% year-on-year to $896m.
Flutter has built up its Italian presence over recent years, acquiring Sisal in 2021 and Snaitech, owner of the Snai brand, in 2024. The integration of Snai, whose acquisition completed in April 2025, is still ongoing.
The shutdown comes as Italy's Ministry of Finance and Economy projects it will raise €1bn in gambling taxes between 2027 and 2028. SBC News notes the industry still regards Italy's tax rate as more favourable than those in the UK and France.
A further opportunity for Flutter in Italy could emerge from a planned scratchcard tender. The Meloni government is weighing whether to bring in a private sector partner to sell lottery scratchcards, a contract Sisal could pursue. Any bid would likely compete against the LottoItalia consortium, made up of Allwyn, Arianna 2001, Novomatic Italia and IGT.