scommessa

Scommessa is an Italian noun meaning a bet or wager. It refers to a stake placed on the outcome of a future event, with winnings determined by the odds offered by a bookmaker. The term comes from the verb scommettere, meaning to bet. In everyday Italian, a person might say “ho fatto una scommessa” (I made a bet).

Types and usage: Scommesse sportive refers to sports betting; scommesse a quota fissa are fixed-odds bets; scommesse accumulatrici (accumulators) combine several selections in a single ticket; scommesse live, or in-play bets, are placed during the event. A wager is settled when the event ends; if the prediction is correct, the bettor receives the stake multiplied by the odds; otherwise, the stake is lost.

Regulation and scope: In Italy, scommesse are regulated by the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM). Licensed operators offer online and retail betting; bets are restricted to players aged 18 or over; advertising is regulated; operators must implement responsible gambling policies and anti-money-laundering controls.

Context and usage: The term is specific to the Italian language, but the concept of betting exists worldwide under various names. In sports journalism and gambling discourse, scommessa is used to refer generally to a bet placed on sports outcomes in Italian contexts.