Bookmaker Ladbrokes revealed that it had started taking online bets from Italian customers. Mattia Nicelli, Ladbrokes' head of Italian business, said the site now had between 700-800 people from the country betting on it

Nicelli also said the betting firm was considering using some of its recently awarded Italian gaming licenses to open amusement arcades rather than betting shops, in order to "make the most of the floor space in its shops".

Recent reports from Ladbrokes show that it has €100 million to spend on expansion into Italy, and plans to have 62 shops offering both sports and horse racing betting, alongside another 51 betting kiosks in places like bars and cafes, in time for next summer's Euro 2008 finals.