ing and gaming service providers Microgame have agreed a partnership deal with B2B technology providers Global Betting Exchange to introduce exchange betting into the Italian market.

The collaboration has been made possible by the 16 January announcement by Italian authorities that exchange betting will be legalised in Italy later in the year.

The two companies have been working towards the launch of Italian exchange betting for three years and the upcoming legislative change will allow them to fulfill what they describe as a “joint ambition”.

Microgame are a leading Italian service provider, operating the People’s Network through 160 licensed online partners, while the Global Betting Exchange platform boasts a liquidity pool matching more than 50 million sports bets totaling over € 8.5 billion a year.

Microgame founder and chief executive Fabrizio D’Aloia said: “Microgame has chosen today's best technological partner in the world in order to introduce this revolutionary product and bring the Italian betting market into a brand new era.”

Global Betting Exchange chief executive Brian O’Sullivan added: “We have been monitoring progress towards the regulation of betting exchange in Italy and are delighted that we are close to the point where Italian consumers can benefit from the full range of betting exchange features that we have been providing to users in the UK for more than 10 years.”