Playtech the online gaming software developer, provider, and licensor has announced a deal with Snai who manages over six thousand Italian betting shops. Snai will become Playtech’s first Italian licensee on its new Italian poker network. It has fully integrated the new games into Snai’s system to allow for a seamless gaming experience for Italian gamblers.

Under the agreement Playtech will offer access to its entire portfolio of games in tournament format to Snai. Right now they are offering a “play for fun” mode which allows players to download the games and hone their skills and strategies for free, with a “play for cash” mode being anticipated for offer in the final quarter of 2008. Allowing players to test the games before having to play will up the anticipation and possibly gain new customers looking for a challenge.

Both companies are dedicated to ensuring it meets Italian regulations for gaming. They have also gone to long measures to make sure it is appealing to Italian players, integrating the language and currencies to help with making it functional in the regional market. Such attention to details could be the major difference in a close market that may not always fully integrate for local differences and languages.

Playtech has said it is pleased to be able to offer its full portfolio of games and integrated gaming to Italy’s largest land based operator. They feel that this foothold is important and that in return Snai is getting access to their excellent management operations as well as poker games. They will of course continue their quest in establishing their presence in established markets and offering their gaming at a top tier level to their licensees.

Snai is equally excited to be able to offer two poker games, Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha, to their players. Since they have always offered skill based gambling and skill games they feel poker is a natural progression of those offerings. They aim to be the top in the Italian market for skill based gambling as they are for horse racing and sports betting. Offering online poker from playtech’s portfolio seems to be a great step in that direction. Only time will tell once the live “for cash” games get online later this year.