Sisal

History

Sisal was founded in 1945 in Milan by Massimo Della Pergola, Fabio Jegher, and Geo Molo, launching Italy’s first football betting coupon, the “schedina,” in 1946 under the name Totocalcio. The proceeds from this game helped rebuild stadiums damaged during World War II. The company expanded its offerings over the decades, introducing Totip for horse racing in 1948, Tris in 1991, and acquiring the Enalotto concession in 1996, which became the hugely popular SuperEnalotto lottery. The 1990s also saw the launch of SisalTV, a satellite channel dedicated to gambling content.

Expansion and Diversification

In the 2000s, Sisal entered the retail sports betting market through the acquisition of the Matchpoint network, launched its first website, and began operating gaming machines. By 2009, it had secured the national lottery concession for SuperEnalotto and introduced innovative products like Win for Life, a lottery offering a 20-year annuity. The retail network grew with Sisal Wincity entertainment outlets, while digital channels expanded with the online portal Sisal.it, now one of the widest product ranges in Italy. The company also built Sisal Pay, a network of approximately 35,000 payment terminals across the country.

Product Portfolio

Sisal’s product lineup includes Italy’s flagship lottery SuperEnalotto, known for large jackpots and periodic enhancements; the historical football betting game Totocalcio; Win for Life (Vinci per la vita!) offering a 20-year annuity; SiVinceTutto, a fixed-prize lottery with weekly draws; VinciCasa, a lottery with prizes for property purchases; and the pan-European Eurojackpot. Physical retail outlets are branded Sisal Wincity, and the digital presence includes Sisal.it, a native mobile casino app for iOS and Android launched in 2024, and SisalTV. Internationally, Sisal won a tender in 2019 to manage lotteries for Morocco’s National Lottery Management Company (SGLN).

Ownership and Market Position

Sisal has undergone several ownership changes: it was held by Apax Partners, Permira, and Clessidra before 2016, then acquired by CVC Capital Partners in 2016. In 2022, Flutter Entertainment completed the acquisition of Sisal, integrating it into a global group that includes Betfair, Paddy Power, and FanDuel. Under CEO Francesco Durante, Sisal has maintained strong financial performance and a dominant position in Italy’s regulated gambling market, competing with other operators like Lottomatica and SNAI. The company continues to invest in responsible gambling, digital product development, and sustainable operations.