Affari tuoi is an Italian game show based upon the internationally popular game show Deal or No Deal. It aired on Rai 1 from 13 October 2003 to 17 March 2017 in the access prime time range. From 26 December 2020, the programme returned to air on Saturday between the access prime time slot and the prime time slot. It is broadcast on public broadcaster Rai 1, and it is also shown regularly on RAI International, RAI's international television service. The show was hosted by, in chronological order: Paolo Bonolis (October 2003 – May 2005), Pupo (September 2005 – March 2006), Antonella Clerici (March – June 2006), Flavio Insinna (September 2006 – June 2008), Max Giusti (September 2008 – June 2013), and again Flavio Insinna (September 2013 – 17 March 2017). The re-edition of 2020 sees the conduct of Carlo Conti, who had already conducted the episode of 1 April 2015, exchanging the management of L'eredità, a programme that he presented at that time, with Insinna, to make an "April fool" to viewers; a new edition aired in 2022 and was hosted by the Italian presenter Amadeus.

Gameplay

In this Italian version, there are 20 boxes; each person holding a box lives in and represents one of the twenty regions of Italy. The highest prize is €500,000, but on some occasions there is a special €1,000,000 prize. In addition to small money prizes, like €0.50, there are three gag prizes—usually items like salami, a year's supply of soap, or stuffed animals like hippos and weasels (from seasons 2006 to 2007, a hippo prize took place instead of the €500 one). The box named Pacco X, and also a Pacco Y between September 2008 and June 2013 (both meaning "mystery package"), may contain values between €0.02 and €200,000 (see below). The box named Pacco Matto (crazy box, February 2011 – June 2013) or La Matta (the madwoman, from September 2013 onwards) may contain one of the possibilities that may affect the progress of the game, positively or negatively, including doubling the top prize to €1,000,000 or forcing the player to leave the game (see below). The manager is known as "Il Dottore" (the doctor) and knows the content of the boxes. Therefore, sometimes his offers can give hints as to whether the contestant's box contains a high amount of money. In order to give himself further chances, the manager sometimes decides to play "Di pacco in pacco" ("step by step") when high prizes are still active. In Affari tuoi, to refuse an offer, instead of saying "No Deal!", a contestant says, "Rifiuto l'offerta e vado avanti", meaning "I refuse the offer and go on". To accept, a contestant says "Accetto l'offerta", meaning, "I'll take the offer." Unlike the US version of the show, there is no button to push. (In fact, international versions of Deal do not use a button and cover.)

Comparison with other versions

Top prize winners

The first winner of €1 million occurred on 7 April 2006, when Maria Giulia Tullo from Fossalto won €1,000,000. Just ten days later, Vincenzo de Paola from Campobasso won €500,000. They also received the Tapiro d'Oro (Golden Tapir) from the Canale 5 show Striscia la notizia, due to suspected fraud. On 17 March 2012, another million euro winning occurred to Gabriele Calvello, thanks to picking Raddoppia which doubles the top prize after opening Pacco Matto. Calvello, whose father died of cancer, decided to donate part of his winnings for cancer research. In addition, thirteen players won €500,000 in their boxes: On 16 March 2013, Cristiana Fraccon from Carugate accepted the offer of €500,000, which is the biggest offer in the show's history, with €50 and the doubled top prize of €1,000,000 remaining. She had the latter in her box.

Controversy

In autumn 2006 Codacons, an Italian consumer organisation, pointed out how high prize boxes ("pacchi") seemed to survive up to the end of the game in many more cases than would be statistically expected.

Box values

Box values (2023)

Box values (2017)

Note: Some small values will be replaced with joke prizes.

Pacco X and Pacco Y

Pacco X (and also Pacco Y from September 2008 to June 2013) are unknown content boxes (the mystery packages). At a certain point in the game, the contestant is asked to take one of the ten envelopes (two of twenty until June 2013) contained into a poll and containing a prize from €0.02 to €200,000. Pacco X was discontinued in 2015.

Brivido

Previously known as Pacco Matto (crazy box) until June 2013, and La Matta (the madwoman) until June 2014 and Sgambetto (trip) until June 2016. If the player has not sold his/her box yet and there are more than two unopened boxes, once Brivido (shiver) is opened, the player is asked to take one of six cards containing each of the following: Brivido had a value of €200 if held by the player. The following were once appeared but were later replaced:

Pacco Natale or Pacco Befana

During Christmas specials, one of the amounts (€50,000 in 2012, €10,000 in 2013 and 2014) is replaced with Pacco Natale (Christmas box) until Christmas Day or Pacco Befana (Befana box) after Christmas until Epiphany (6 January). Once the box is opened, the player chooses one of 10 gift boxes and wins the gift in the chosen box.

Additional games

Trivia

On 5 February 2007, Flavio Insinna appeared with his models on the US version of Deal or No Deal via satellite, to wish a contestant from Sicily luck. The Sicilian, who appeared on the US show with his extended family, was also an avid viewer of Affari tuoi.