Andrea Pirlo presents winners at Golden Boomerang Awards 2025 at iconic San Siro Stadium

Milan, Italy — The Golden Boomerang Awards 2025 reached new heights of prestige and celebration this year as Boomerang Partners hosted the landmark event at none other than the legendary San Siro Stadium. Drawing over 400 partner teams from around the world, the event has firmly established itself as one of the premier global gatherings in the affiliate marketing industry, honoring excellence across sports and a range of performance-driven verticals.

The evening’s highlight was the presence of Andrea Pirlo, AC Milan legend and global football icon, who graced the stage to personally present the awards. His participation brought a special significance to the night, as he applauded the innovation and performance achievements of this year’s winners.

Andrea Pirlo commented:
“It’s a pleasure to be part of such an exciting event that brings innovation, performance, and community together. My congratulations to all the winners—your hard work truly stands out.”

Kajino Media Takes Top Honors

In total, 11 awards were presented in major affiliate marketing categories, culminating in the prestigious GrandPrix award, which was claimed by Kajino Media for dominating the sports leaderboard.

Kajino Media’s founder shared:
“The Golden Boomerang Awards is a great test of our capabilities and expertise. This tournament allows us not only to evaluate our work but also to be recognized on a global level. I had some expectations that we would win, but I wasn’t sure, to be honest. I’m happy!”

A Night Beyond Awards

The ceremony was more than a celebration of affiliate success—it was an immersive VIP experience. Guests received exclusive access to the Mondo Milan Museum and the Official AC Milan Store, where a live Italian artist created custom T-shirts for attendees.

Renowned Italian showrunner Gabriele Rizzi, known for his collaborations with top fashion houses, curated a stunning stage production, while performances from elite DJs, fashion artists, and a Michelin-starred culinary team elevated the experience.

Giving Back Through Sport

The evening also featured a memorable charity auction, with standout prizes including:

• A commemorative watch honoring AC Milan’s 2003/2004 title-winning season

• A custom ball signed by Andrea Pirlo

• A lot of premium wine from Pirlo’s own collection

• A signed jersey by team star Rafael Leão

The auction raised €8,000, all of which was donated to Fondazione Milan in support of youth sports projects.

Benedetto Di Blasi, Fundraising and Digital Communication Officer at Fondazione Milan, said:
“Thanks to this fundraiser, in the next season 2025/26, Boomerang and its partners will support 27 children, either living with disabilities or in vulnerable environments, giving them the opportunity to play sports in safe and high-quality project spaces.”

---

Looking Ahead

The Golden Boomerang Awards 2025 showcased how the power of sport, affiliate technology, and human connection can converge to create something unforgettable. With legendary guests, world-class entertainment, and a commitment to social impact, the ceremony raised the bar for what industry events can be.

Boomerang Partners has already begun work on the third season of the tournament, promising another groundbreaking year for the affiliate community.

Stay tuned—the boomerang always comes back.

Reade more >>

PokerStars Open event in Italy makes record debut

The inaugural PokerStars Open event in Campione, Italy, has kicked off the PokerStars 2025 live event schedule with a bang, with the €1,100 Main Event becoming the largest-ever at a standalone PokerStars festival in Italy, attracting a whopping 2,423 entries from 50 countries.

Marking PokerStars' triumphant return to Italy after six years, PokerStars Open Campione attracted players from across Europe and further afield, with big names in attendance including EPT Champions Simon Brandstrom, Giuliano Bendinelli and Arsenii Karmatckii, Sunday Million Anniversary winner Vanessa Kade, and PokerStars Ambassadors Sam Grafton, Barny Boatman, and Alex Romero, all taking to the felt at PokerStars’ brand-new Casinò di Campione poker room for seven days of world-class poker action from 10-16 March.

ADRIAN-SOREL STATE CROWNED MAIN EVENT CHAMPION

The record-breaking Main Event attracted 2,423 entries, where the signs of a bumper turnout were seen from Day 1a with 644 entrants ensuring almost 64% of the guarantee had already been reached. Adrian-Sorel State from Romania bested the field to secure the PokerStars Open trophy and the huge €363,000 first-place prize.

"It was an amazing experience with such huge field, said State after his victory. I'm really happy. Of course, you need to run extremely well to win a tournament, with coolers going your way—like the full-over-full hand at the final table. I'm really grateful for this win."

Meanwhile, the €2,200 High Roller attracted 354 entries with a €679,680 prize pool, with Iceland player Arni Gunnarsson taking down the tournament for €134,560.

"We are thrilled that so many players joined us in Italy to create this fantastic first PokerStars Open tournament," said Cédric Billot, Associate Director of Live Events Operations at PokerStars. "This event not only marks our exciting return to Italy but also sets a strong precedent for our live tournaments in 2025. The enthusiasm, talent, and fun displayed throughout the event have made the Open tournaments unmissable for poker players. We look forward to welcoming everyone at the next stop for the iconic Irish Open next month, and see how the League competition kicks in.”

POKERSTARS LIVE LEAGUE

Campione also marked the launch of the new PokerStars Live League, an exciting new leaderboard component to the 2025 European schedule, which allows players to accumulate points across three different leaderboard tiers according to event buy-in at European events throughout the year. As well as awarding more than €150,000 in buy-ins, the top 30 finishers in the League will get the chance to audition to become a PokerStars Team Pro and travel across the globe wearing the iconic PokerStars patch.

POKERSTARS NEXT EUROPEAN STOP: DUBLIN

PokerStars next major European live stop will be in Dublin for the legendary Irish Open, sponsored by PokerStars. The iconic event, which is Europe’s longest running live series and Ireland’s richest poker, will take place from 10-21 April 2025 at the Royal Dublin Society.

Meanwhile, the PokerStars Open tour will continue to more vibrant European destinations over 2025, bringing huge €1/£1 million guarantees, accessible buy-ins, packed schedules, and a whole lot of mischief at the tables.

- PokerStars Open Monte Carlo: 30 April - 4 May 2025 at Sporting Monte-Carlo.
- PokerStars Open Namur: 28 May – 9 June 2025 at Circus Casino Resort.
- PokerStars Open Malaga: 16-22 June, 2025 at Gran Madrid Casino Torrequebrada.
- PokerStars Open Barcelona: 18-21 August 2025 at Casino Barcelona.
- PokerStars Open Malta: 1-6 October 2025 at InterContinental Malta.
- PokerStars Open Manchester: 20-26 October 2025 at Casino Manchester235.
- PokerStars Open Prague: 3-8 December 2025 at Hilton Hotel Prague.
- PokerStars Open Cannes: 15-21 December 2025 at Casino Barriere Le Croisette.

Reade more >>

Charity event organized by Italian poker stars raises record funds

Rome, 24 March 2024 - A great success for the charity event organized by some of the Italian poker stars. The tournament, which was held in Rome last weekend, raised a record amount of €100,000 for various charities.

Among the players who took part in the event were Dario Sammartino, Mustapha Kanit, Alessandro De Angelis, Federica Masotti and many others. The tournament was won by Andrea Dato, who received a prize of €20,000.

"We are really happy with the success of this initiative," said Dario Sammartino. "It was great to see so many players come together for a common cause. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible."

The funds raised will be used to support various charities dealing with causes such as the fight against poverty, child protection and medical research.

Reade more >>

New rules for online poker in Italy: what changes for players

Rome, 24 March 2024 - The new rules for online poker in Italy have come into force. The new provisions, introduced by the Dignity Decree, provide various changes for players.

Among the main changes is the introduction of a maximum monthly deposit limit of €1,000. Furthermore, players will be required to carry out a self-assessment before being able to play online poker.

The new rules have sparked a heated debate among players and industry operators. There are those who believe that the new provisions are too restrictive and risk damaging the Italian online poker market. Others, however, argue that the new rules are necessary to protect players and combat pathological gambling.

Reade more >>

EGBA expresses concern over new Italian decree

The European Gaming and Betting Association is deeply concerned about the proposed new Italian decree on online gambling, which is currently under discussion in the Council of Ministers. The decree includes provisions that would introduce a significant reorganization of the sector, particularly regarding the cost of license fees. The possible introduction of (quasi) prohibitive licensing regimes and fees also raises concerns on compliance with EU law, which will merit consideration.

Recent news reports suggest the decree will set an unprecedented €7 million license fee, far surpassing other EU Member States. EGBA believes that such a substantial increase in the license cost is unwarranted, particularly when compared to the country’s previous licensing tenders for online gambling operations. The proposed fee represents a 35-fold increase from the 2018 license fee of €200,000 and triples the Italian authorities’ previous license fee proposal of €2.5 million, which was never implemented.

EGBA stresses that this significant license fee hike will have severe consequences. The high fee will deter new market entrants and likely force existing licensees, especially smaller operators, out of the market. This would, EGBA believes, lead to a drastic cut in the number of licensed operators from the current 91 licensees to a mere 15-20, contributing a significant increase in the size of the country’s online gambling black market, posing inherit risks for player protection.

Italy’s online gambling black market is already one of Europe’s largest, valued at over €1 billion annually and the fee proposal will make this situation worse, not better, with grave implications for the protection of Italian players.

Anticipated revenues from the proposed licenses, even in the most optimistic scenario, range between €105-140 million for the Italian state. EGBA suggests that implementing the current unused tender proposal of €2.5 million, without the previously suggested limiting factors of 40 licensees and an auction mechanism, could yield a similar or higher tax revenue without significantly harming market competitiveness.

The primary goal of Italy’s gambling regulation should be the protection of players and fostering a fair and competitive market environment and, thus, EGBA urgently calls upon the Council of Ministers to reconsider the proposed punitive increase in license fees. By limiting competition to only a few operators and inadvertently bolstering the size of the black market, the proposal risks undermining player protection.

EGBA is committed to working with the Italian authorities to develop a license fee framework which supports a well-regulated and sustainable online gambling market, prioritizing player protection and ensuring a level playing field for all operators. The existing advertising ban, which is currently exploited by black market operators, should be revoked to allow regulated advertising that protects minors and vulnerable groups, while enabling licensed operators to market their regulated gambling offer.

“The proposed increase in licensing fees is unparalleled and unheard of, it would make Italy the most expensive country in Europe to obtain an online gambling license. Together with the other restrictions in its gambling market, such as the local advertising ban, this proposed fee hike will make Italy a closed shop for new market entrants and lead to an exodus of existing licensees. This also raises concerns on compliance with EU law. We urge the Council of Ministers to reconsider the proposal, as it will make the country’s online gambling black market problem even worse, not better.” – Maarten Haijer, Secretary General, EGBA.

Reade more >>

EGBA concern at reported size of online gambling black market in Italy

According to a recent report by La Gazzetta dello Sport, the value of bets placed by Italian gamblers on the black market is estimated to be a staggering €25 billion per year, with €18.5 billion of this amount, or 75%, spent on unlicensed gambling websites.

Based on these figures, EGBA estimates that nearly €1 billion in online gross gaming revenue in Italy is lost to black market websites annually, equivalent to the combined regulated online gambling revenue of 8 other EU countries. What is concerning is that it means many Italian players will be betting on websites that are based outside of the EU, which do not offer them even a basic level of consumer protection.

Italy’s Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) has already taken action by blocking over 9800 unlicensed gambling websites this year alone. This number is already 400 more than the total blocked in 2022, highlighting the increasing scale of the problem.

The protection of customers is a key priority for EGBA and it stands against gambling websites that target the EU market but operate outside EU law and fail to provide necessary consumer safeguards for Europeans. It is crucial that the Italian authorities do more to raise awareness among Italian gamblers about the risks associated with using unlicensed platforms based outside the EU, and to signpost the licensed operators who adhere to the regulated responsible gambling practices and regulations in the country.

“The significant size of Italy’s online black market is concerning, yet it is not surprising given that Italy has one of Europe’s strictest advertising regimes for its licensed gambling companies. The country’s ban on advertising for licensed gambling operators is clearly favouring the black market. Without a sufficient level of advertising, there is no real way for Italians to tell the difference between a gambling website which is licensed in Italy – and applies the country’s consumer protection rules – and one that is not. It is evident that enforcement action against black market operators is not sufficient, and that the government needs to revise its advertising rules for gambling to ensure Italian citizens can be well-informed about the licensed websites in the country.” – Maarten Haijer, Secretary General, EGBA.

Reade more >>

Nuova Legge sul Poker Online in Italia

Il governo italiano ha approvato una nuova legge sul poker online, introducendo regolamenti più rigorosi per i siti di gioco d'azzardo online. La nuova normativa mira a proteggere i giocatori e prevenire il gioco d'azzardo compulsivo, imponendo limiti più severi alle scommesse e introducendo controlli più rigorosi sull'età dei giocatori. Questa legge rappresenta un passo importante per garantire che il poker online rimanga un passatempo sicuro e responsabile per gli italiani.

Reade more >>

Torneo di Poker Texas Hold'em al Casinò di Venezia

Nel prestigioso Casinò di Venezia, è in corso un torneo di poker Texas Hold'em di alto livello. Il torneo ha attirato alcuni dei migliori giocatori italiani e internazionali, competendo per un montepremi impressionante. L'atmosfera nel Casinò è elettrizzante, con i partecipanti che si sfidano in emozionanti mani di poker. Il vincitore di questo torneo guadagnerà non solo una somma considerevole, ma anche il prestigio di aver trionfato in uno dei luoghi più iconici del gioco d'azzardo italiano.

Reade more >>

Camosci claims WSOP $2,100 Bounty Championship

(credits: Assopoker.com)

It took fewer than ten hours of play in the most recent 2020 GGPoker World Series of Poker Online Bracelet Events to crown a champion in Event #50: $2,100 Bounty Championship. Flying the Maltese flag, it was Italy's Enrico "GTOExploiter" Camosci that topped a field of 1,168 entries to take home the lion's share of the $2,336,000 prize pool.

Camosci entered the final table as the chip leader after eliminating Alex Difelice on the final table bubble and spent most of the time near the top of the leaderboard after. He subsequently knocked out three of the finalists and has earned his maiden WSOP gold bracelet along with $327,319 for his efforts.

The sheer magnitude of Camosci's bounty prize of $142,740, which is bigger than the cash prize for second-placed Omer "omeroz01" Ozsirkintis and nearly as big as the total prize of third-placed Aki "Seabossss" Virtanen, reveals the importance of the progressive knockout format which triggered most of the action throughout the day.

The final table also featured 2017 WSOP Main Event finalist Damian Salas, Dominik Panka and Connor Drinan who were the first three players to bust.

Reade more >>