Banijay Group Acquires Majority Stake in Tipico, Creating European Betting & Gaming Powerhouse
Banijay Group, teh Paris-based entertainment conglomerate behind productions like Black Mirror and MasterChef, is considerably expanding its presence in the sports betting and online gaming sector. The company has announced a “majority stake” acquisition in Tipico Group, a leading operator in Germany and Austria, and concurrently is merging it with its existing Betclic brand. This move aims to establish a “European champion” in the rapidly growing industry.
the deal values Betclic at €4.8 billion and Tipico at €4.6 billion. Banijay will repurchase a meaningful portion of CVC Capital Partners’ stake in Tipico, which is headquartered in malta. Importantly, all existing shareholders of both Betclic and Tipico, including their founders, will retain ownership in the newly combined entity.
This transaction is backed by a financial package of approximately €3 billion, including refinancing of Tipico’s existing debt, provided by Betclic’s financial partners.Banijay anticipates the combined operation, operating under the Banijay Gaming banner, will double its turnover, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow. Annual synergies are projected to reach around €100 million in the medium term.
Currently,the combined brands – Betclic,Tipico,and Admiral (acquired by Tipico in September) – serve nearly 6.5 million unique active players annually and operate over 1,250 sports betting agencies across Germany and Austria, employing a total of 5,300 people.
The completion of the deal is anticipated by mid-2026, pending regulatory approvals. Nicolas Béraud, founder of Betclic in 2005 and current general manager, will transition to Chairman of the Board of Directors of Banijay Gaming on January 1st. Axel Hefer,Managing Director of Tipico,expressed confidence that the partnership will provide the “scale and resources to accelerate product innovation” and enhance customer experience.
Banijay Group reported a record year in 2024, with net profit doubling to €155 million (compared to €74 million in 2023), and nearly tripling its net profit in the first half of the year. However,the group has also publicly voiced opposition to recent tax increases on sports betting and online games in France,intending to challenge them through a process with European authorities.
The broader European online gaming market continues to expand, reaching €47.9 billion in revenue in 2024, with mobile and tablet platforms accounting for 58% of that total – a percentage expected to grow.
