Following in the footsteps of PartyGaming’s purchase of two popular operators in the World Poker Tour and Cashcade, it has been revealed that Bwin has agreed to buy the first independent  Italian online poker giant Gioco Digitale for an amount of 115 million euros which will be made up between shares and cash.

"These European gaming companies know that now is the time to buy up the smaller companies and go strong into these markets that are opening up," said observer Vinnie Brandille, "The bigger companies are simply positioning themselves for the near future."

Italy is presently one of the countries that are expanding their online casino laws.  Bwin will have a strong hold on internet gambling in Italy once the two companies combine as it already has a prior seven percent share in the country.

Bwin Interactive Entertainment is an Australian company providing sports betting, soft and skill games, poker and casino games as well as audio and video streams of the main sporting events in more than 25 markets offered in 22 languages under national as well as international licenses.