Sportingbet sell Italian operation

In a small article in yesterday's Racing Post, it was announced that Sportingbet have given up on their attempt to break into the Italian market and sold the operation to the local management team. The Italian government opened up sports betting on their terms to foreign operators a couple of years ago, and it has been very slow progress for the new entrants - as if often the case with business in Italy! I believe they aren't the first firm to pack and go home either. It's all about who you know in Italian business and government...