In a bid to get a foot in the door of the growing online poker market in Italy, Microgaming has announced the launch of a new Italian language poker network and is encouraging gaming groups to join. As such, Ladbrokes has become the first operator to join the network and Microgaming is currently negotiating with others.

“With the Italian market set to become increasingly open and competitive in the months to come, we are confident that we have the right resources and alliances to support our operators and help them to succeed,” said the CEO of Microgaming, Roger Raatgever. “Italy is an important region for the future of gaming in Europe, as it has set the standard for other countries wishing to introduce gaming regulations; it is a crucial gateway for further EU expansion. We remain committed to the Italian market and are keen to play our part in helping our licensees take full advantage of the opportunities that lie therein, and beyond.”