The worldwide iGaming industry’s M&A activity in 2017 was historic. Several top corporations finalized numerous multibillion-dollar transactions, and countless significant announcements have already been made. Some of the most prominent players have recently been concentrating on expanding the US and other newly regulated areas.
1. 888 And William Hill
Caesars Entertainment sold William Hill’s non-US assets to 888 Holdings, one of the world’s top betting and gaming organizations, for $1 billion in July. William Hill’s non-US assets would be acquired by 888, as planned, since September 2021. This happened soon after Caesars paid billions to buy out William Hill’s whole company. However, the company’s initial plan was to sell off all assets besides those in the US.
2. Flutter And Tombola
Important news that online gambling behemoth Flutter had bought bingo operator Tombola in an all-cash deal was announced. Tombola is a reputable operator specializing in low-stakes bingo games and attracts about 400,000 customers each month. Flutter claims that the diversification of its product line is one of several “important strategic advantages” that its most recent portfolio addition is expected to bring. The operator company also emphasized how Tombola would expand Flutter’s safer gaming method while building a more loyal and long-lasting player base.
3. Flutter And Sisal
Flutter started midway through the year when it had finished a second acquisition of Sisal, an Italian online gaming company. According to reports, the transaction aligns with the group’s investment strategy of developing leadership positions in regulated markets. Since 1997, Sisal has operated the national lotteries of Turkey and Morocco in addition to Italy’s SuperEnalotto. Sisal is also the most prominent online gaming provider in Italy.
4. Entain And Betent
Entain announced in June that it had reached a deal to buy BetEnt BV. The pricing and allocation of a “New Term Loan” by Entain Plc, which will give the gaming company $1 billion in funding to pursue its international growth objectives, was successfully completed in October. Einstein reported that after receiving significant demand from international credit investors, the company was permitted to enlarge its initial deal. These financial instructions enabled the group to acquire BetEnt using the new term loan. In Q4, a deal was anticipated to close.
5. Sportradar And Vaix
Vaix, a developer of Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions for the gaming sector, has been bought by Sportradar. The sports technology company Sportradar has been working with Vaix for the past two years, integrating the latter’s products into its Managed Trading Services (MTS) package, which is marketed to operators as a trading, risk, live odds, and liability management solution. “The acquisition of Vaix is the culmination of an essential and fruitful cooperation we have had with the company over the past two years,” said Paolo Personeni, Managing Director of Managed Betting Services at Sportradar.
6. Gambling.Com And Bonusfinder
The publisher of BonusFinder.com, NDC Media, will be acquired by Gambling.com Group, which has announced that it has struck a legally binding agreement. Based on the results of earnout incentives, Gambling.com has set a cap on its acquisition offer of millions. As a result, the buyer can “pay up to 50% of each of the earnout payments in unregistered ordinary shares at its exclusive discretion.”
7. Neogames And Aspire Global
Midway through June, NeoGames stated that the previously publicized tender offer to buy Aspire Global had been successful. Additionally, in response to NeoGames’ request, Aspire Global has requested that its shares be delisted from the Nasdaq First North Premier. The Aspire Board, unanimously in favor of the proposed merger before the proposal was made public, proceeded forward with the delisting to facilitate NeoGames’ complete takeover.
8. Evolution And Nolimit City
Additionally, Evolution has successfully acquired the significant slot developer Nolimit City. Evolution revealed in June that it had achieved a deal to buy Nolimit for a starting price of millions, with additional millions contingent on the company’s performance in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
9. MGM Resorts And Leovegas
MGM Resorts International offered to purchase LeoVegas for SEK 61 per share in September. The total tender value is the same as the price per share. Bill Hornbuckle, CEO and President of MGM Resorts said, “We are pleased to start collaborating with LeoVegas to build our worldwide digital gaming company and harness the full potential of our omnichannel approach.
10. Endeavour And Openbet
In October, the sports entertainment firm Endeavor Group finished buying OpenBet. Openbet, a company that offers platforms, services, and content to the sports betting market, was bought by Endeavor.
