Rome-based Serie A club SS Lazio and prediction platform Polymarket have mutually ended their commercial partnership before the originally planned 2027/28 season. The termination follows recent regulatory actions by Italian authorities that restricted the platform's operations within the country.
Partnership Terms and Financial Settlement
The sponsorship agreement was initially announced in April, designating Polymarket as the club's official sponsor and Fan Intelligence & Digital Insight Partner. The arrangement was valued at over $22 million, supplemented by performance and activation bonuses. Under the early termination terms, Polymarket will remit the complete payment originally scheduled for the 2026/27 campaign. Both organizations confirmed they will maintain open communication and may reassess a future collaboration should the regulatory environment shift.The decision directly responds to updated provisions from Italian gambling regulators. The Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) classified Polymarket as a prohibited service on July 10, making the platform inaccessible to domestic users starting July 27. Italy has maintained a ban on gambling advertising and sponsorship since 2018 under the Decreto Dignità legislation.
The country recently joined a nine-regulator European consortium that initiated a coordinated review of prediction market platforms in June. Similar restrictions have been implemented in Spain, the Czech Republic, and France, with authorities citing consumer protection standards and licensing compliance as primary factors.
Earlier this year, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) requested a government review of the 2018 betting advertising restrictions. The federation noted that the sponsorship ban has reduced commercial revenue for domestic clubs, creating a competitive imbalance with other major European leagues.
Source: SS Lazio official announcement, ADM regulatory notices.