Consolidation across betting and gaming: acquisitions, mergers, stake purchases, divestments, buy-backs and the rumours that precede them — operators, suppliers and affiliate groups alike.
Canadian operator Highfield Investment Group has announced plans to launch Spire Casino venues at two recently acquired and renamed racetracks in Alberta. The gaming facilities will be developed at Chinook Downs Racetrack in Calgary and Northern Mile Racetrack in Edmonton. The move follows Highfield's acquisition of the racing and gaming operations of Century Downs in October.
The Juroszek family has become the majority shareholder in Gentoo Media after increasing its stake to approximately 56.49% through a €50m debt refinancing. The transaction saw Mateusz and Tomasz Juroszek acquire an additional 91.9 million shares in the affiliate media group via the MJ Foundation.
Bally’s Intralot accelerated its UK online growth rate during the third quarter, offsetting more than half of the financial impact from the 40% duty. Meanwhile, the operator's planned takeover of William Hill parent company evoke has faced delays and will now not complete until 2027.
European lottery operator Allwyn has announced plans to transition its sportsbook technology in-house and acquire full ownership of Instant Win Gaming (IWG). The strategic moves are designed to increase operational flexibility and streamline efficiency across its digital gaming portfolio.
France’s competition authority has granted unconditional approval for Banijay Gaming’s acquisition of casino operator Joa. The transaction expands Banijay's gaming footprint by adding Joa’s 33 land-based venues to a portfolio that already features online betting operator Betclic.
Bally’s Intralot reported a 250% surge in Q3 revenue alongside an update on its pending acquisition of William Hill owner evoke. The operator confirmed the transaction will not close this year, as ongoing regulatory approvals are now expected to conclude in Q1 2027.
The French Competition Authority has officially cleared Banijay Gaming's acquisition of the JOA group, which operates 33 casinos across France. Regulators concluded the transaction raised no antitrust concerns due to an absence of market overlap, noting parent entity Lov Group does not operate in the domestic casino sector.
The French Competition Authority has approved Banijay Group's acquisition of JOA Group, clearing the way for the media firm's expansion into France's land-based casino market. The regulatory green light follows Banijay's initial takeover agreement reached in July.
Wynn Resorts contributed $62.2m in cash during the third quarter to the joint venture developing Wynn Al Marjan Island in the UAE, bringing its total life-to-date investment to $1.12bn. The operator holds a 40% stake in the integrated resort project. The property remains on track for an anticipated opening in September 2027.
France’s competition authority has approved Banijay Gaming’s acquisition of land-based casino operator Joa. The regulator concluded the deal is unlikely to restrict market competition, identifying poker as the sole notable area of overlap between the parties' online and retail operations.
Spanish gaming operator Cirsa posted a 35.9% increase in nine-month adjusted net profit to €202.1 million ($226.4 million), supported by a 10% revenue rise to €1.89 billion ($2.12 billion). Adjusted EBITDA grew 9.3% over the period, despite elevated promotional spending and unfavorable sporting margins impacting online betting operations. The performance update precedes an upcoming shareholder vote on the company's proposed merger with Lottomatica.
Sportradar recorded 47% revenue growth in the US market during the third quarter, driven in part by expansion into prediction markets. However, brokerage Freedom Capital Markets noted that regulatory developments in Brazil and the pending divestment of Atrium Sports continue to weigh on the company's outlook.
Play’n GO is preparing for a potential sale to a major regulated gaming business, with sources indicating a deal could be worth hundreds of millions of euros. The supplier recently moved to cut game supply through major aggregators over offshore leakage and shut down its Asian operations, steps industry experts view as consistent with preparations for a regulated buyer. Sources identified Aristocrat, Genting and Light & Wonder as potential acquirers, citing Play’n GO’s regulated content revenue and presence in six US states.
CIRSA reported a 12% increase in Q3 revenue alongside an expanding footprint in its casino division. Operating profit rose 6.8% for the period, marking the company's 73rd consecutive quarter of growth, or up 11.1% to €203m when adjusted for costs tied to its proposed merger with Lottomatica. Across the first nine months of 2026, the Spain-based gaming group saw total revenue advance 10%.
Cirsa is targeting the upper end of its 2026 financial guidance as its proposed merger with Lottomatica progresses. In its Q3 earnings update, the company highlighted sports betting and online gaming as its fastest-growing business segment.
France’s Autorité de la concurrence has granted unconditional clearance for Banijay Gaming to acquire exclusive control of JOA Group. The transaction incorporates JOA’s network of 33 domestic land-based casinos and hospitality venues under the ownership of the Betclic parent company. Regulators noted the approval establishes a unified gaming group with significant cross-channel operations across both online gambling and retail sectors.
Grupo CIRSA highlighted the ongoing stability and profitability of its Spanish operations ahead of a 30 November shareholder vote on its proposed merger with Lottomatica SPA. In its Q3 trading update, the operator reported record year-to-date profits of €128m, reflecting a 37% surge in underlying pre-tax profit.
Zeal reported a 22% increase in revenue following its acquisition of a 96.5% stake in operator SevenCanyon. The newly integrated business contributed €10.5m in revenue over the first nine months of 2026.
Lottomatica has expanded its footprint in Italy after reporting record online market share across its digital gaming operations. The Italian operator is simultaneously positioning itself for broader expansion via a planned merger with Cirsa.
Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) Chief Financial Officer Phil Richards has stepped down from his position after two and a half years with the company. During his tenure, Richards oversaw key corporate milestones, including the group's major stake acquisition in 888Africa.
Grupo Codere is reportedly exploring the separate divestment of its three core business units to improve the prospects of a company sale. Investors are considering individual transactions for its European retail, Latin American retail, and US-listed online gaming divisions following limited interest in an outright group purchase. The split approach aims to unlock market value by catering to specialized regional and digital buyers.
Lottomatica has reaffirmed its position as Italy's gambling market leader as it moves to complete its all-share merger with Spanish operator CIRSA this November. The Milan-listed company reported continued domestic dominance, securing a 31.7% share of the Italian online betting sector as of the third quarter.
Honoré Gaming has partnered with The Affiliate Platform (TAP) to integrate its affiliate management software across its operator network in French-speaking Africa and Latin America. The integration connects affiliate acquisition with existing Smartico loyalty and retention tools.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has been forced to divest his stake in prediction market platform Polymarket to comply with NFL regulations. The move comes as regulatory scrutiny on the sector intensifies, with state authorities in Utah also filing criminal charges against Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour.
MGM Resorts has amended its voting agreement with People Inc. following the withdrawal of the latter's takeover proposal. The revised terms cap People Inc.'s share acquisitions at 29.9% and mandate that the entity vote in alignment with MGM's board. The update comes amid reported revenue downturns across MGM's Las Vegas Strip and regional casino properties.
MGM Resorts International has terminated acquisition talks with its largest shareholder, People Inc., following the withdrawal of an $18 billion buyout proposal. CEO Bill Hornbuckle confirmed during the operator's third-quarter earnings call that discussions ended after People Inc. failed to assemble the necessary financing syndicate, despite reaching an agreement on price.
BetMakers reported a 176.1% year-on-year increase in EBITDA to AU$5.9m (£3.1m) for Q1 FY27, alongside a 16.3% rise in revenue to AU$24.7m. The strong operational performance comes as the Australian betting technology provider prepares for an acquisition by Tabcorp.
Caesars Entertainment reported a third-quarter net loss of $123 million, widening from a $55 million loss during the same period last year. The decline was driven by weakness in the operator's Las Vegas operations, which countered revenue growth across its regional and digital segments. The financial results come ahead of Caesars' scheduled $17.6 billion acquisition by Fertitta Entertainment.
In its Q3 trading update, evoke plc reported group revenue of £406m, reflecting a 7% year-on-year decrease or 2% on a like-for-like constant currency basis. The company, which has accepted a takeover offer from Bally's Intralot, highlighted the strain on its retail estate while cautioning the UK government against further sector tax increases.
Chickasaw Nation-owned Global Gaming Solutions has acquired 100% of Wyoming Horse Racing through its subsidiary, Global Gaming WY. The transaction includes the transfer of 13 Horse Palace Gaming and off-track betting properties located throughout the state. The acquisition further expands the tribal gaming entity's footprint into the regional pari-mutuel and gaming market.
Global Gaming Solutions has completed the acquisition of Wyoming Horse Racing. The transaction encompasses 13 Horse Palace off-track betting locations housing more than 1,500 historical horse racing terminals, as well as live racing operations at Sweetwater Downs Racetrack.
SkyCity Entertainment Group has stated it would consider acquisition proposals for its entire portfolio as an alternative to its current growth strategy. The consideration follows subdued trading conditions across New Zealand and Australia and encompasses key assets, including its flagship Auckland property, the Sky Tower, and venues in Hamilton and Adelaide.
LCKY Group has finalized its acquisition of Danish brand RoyalCasino after securing all necessary regulatory approvals. The transaction, first agreed upon earlier this year, aims to expand LCKY's market presence across regulated European jurisdictions.
Matchbook has strengthened its position in the UK and Ireland exchange betting sector following its acquisition of Betdaq. According to Matchbook CEO Ronan McDonagh, the transaction provides the combined entity with a major competitive advantage in the peer-to-peer wagering space.
The PA has agreed to acquire RAS Technology, the owner of Racing and Sports. This move will see the UK news group integrate the ASX-listed racing data supplier with its Podium betting data business, expanding into the Australian wagering market.
The Press Association (PA) is acquiring RAS Technology Holdings to enhance its global racing and sports data betting industry support. This acquisition aims to leverage the expertise of both entities in sports data, technology, and wagering services, complementing PA's existing Podium sports data arm.
Media Troopers is expanding its performance marketing efforts into mainstream media environments. The digital acquisition group is leveraging its technology, data, and audience acquisition expertise for this broader reach.
Evolution AB (publ) has repurchased 502,208 of its own shares between October 12 and October 16, 2026. This acquisition is part of a program to optimize the company's capital structure and enhance shareholder value.
Matchbook has completed the acquisition of fellow betting exchange Betdaq for an undisclosed sum. The deal reportedly includes Racecourse Data Technologies (RDT), which supports on-course bookmakers with hardware, software, and hedging capabilities through Betdaq.
Matchbook has acquired Betdaq. The existing Betdaq service will operate until October 21 for trading, with customer accounts open for withdrawals until November 4 to facilitate an orderly transition.