Aquisitions/Mergers
DoubleDown Interactive Enters into Agreement to Acquire German Social Casino Operator WHOW Games

DoubleDown Interactive, a leading gaming company delivering exceptional player experiences across multiple genres, announced that it has entered into a Share Purchase and Transfer Agreement with Azerion Tech Holding to acquire WHOW Games GmbH, a social casino developer headquartered in Hamburg, Germany.
The initial consideration for 100% ownership interest in WHOW Games is €55 million (approximately $64.7 million). An additional earn-out payment of up to €10 million, payable to Azerion at €5 million annually, is contingent upon WHOW Games meeting certain performance targets during each of the first and second year following the closing date. The acquisition will be financed through DoubleDown’s cash reserves and is expected to close during the third quarter of 2025.
DoubleDown intends to leverage WHOW Games’ proven expertise in the Europe market and partner-driven business model alongside its own operational strength, marketing capabilities and extensive gaming content to pursue growth opportunities in Europe, particularly in Germany. According to research from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming LLC, the European social casino market grew in 2023 and 2024 as compared to the overall market which has entered a mature stage. WHOW Games offers a versatile portfolio of social casino apps with proprietary brands such as MyJackpot and Lounge777 as well as third-party labeled social casino offerings including Merkur24 through strategic licensing agreements with prominent global brick and mortar casino companies.
In Keuk Kim, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, said: “This acquisition marks a significant step toward increasing our competitiveness in the growing German social casino market. Leveraging our combined operational expertise and enhanced scale, we aim to unlock valuable synergies. We are delighted to welcome the WHOW Games team to DoubleDown and look forward to working collaboratively on initiatives to drive growth across the business.”
Giovanni Valerio Valeriota, Chief Executive Officer of WHOW Games, said: “We are excited to begin this new chapter as part of the DoubleDown family. Their deep expertise in gaming makes them a natural fit for WHOW Games, and we believe that this partnership will accelerate our growth and innovation. I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Azerion, whose support and strategic guidance during our time together has been instrumental in shaping WHOW Games into the strong and dynamic company it is today.”
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Aquisitions/Mergers
CasinoRIX Acquires Innovate Change

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CasinoRIX, a provider of online casino review and comparison services, has acquired Innovate Change, a New Zealand platform known for its independent reviews of real-money casinos. The deal gives CasinoRIX a direct presence in New Zealand and supports its wider international growth.
The acquisition strengthens CasinoRIX’s ability to deliver transparent, data-driven reviews across new markets. Innovate Change adds local expertise through impartial reviews, bonus comparisons and responsible gambling resources tailored to New Zealand players. Integrating these capabilities into CasinoRIX’s global framework ensures consistent standards while addressing regional needs. This step reflects CasinoRIX’s broader strategy: expanding internationally while maintaining credibility and trust as core values.
Jessica Millis, Chief Executive Officer of CasinoRIX, said: “Innovate Change has built a respected position in New Zealand through its independence and commitment to players. By bringing the business into CasinoRIX, we combine that local strength with our international network. This acquisition supports our growth strategy and reinforces our role as a trusted source of information in regulated iGaming markets.”
CasinoRIX will extend localised coverage in New Zealand, covering local licensing, payments and promotions. The integration will allow for faster updates, broader operator comparisons and tools that help players make informed decisions.
The post CasinoRIX Acquires Innovate Change appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Aquisitions/Mergers
NextBet Launches as Acquisition Vehicle (AV) to Consolidate Mid-Market Operators; Announces Flagship Acquisition and Growth Strategy

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NextBet has announced its official launch, establishing itself as a bold new AV and challenger in the Australian wagering market. Formed to capitalise on the mounting pressure facing undercapitalised operators and an accelerating wave of industry consolidation, NextBet enters the market with the acquisition of well-established operator, CrossBet. This strategic move marks the first step in a bold plan to build Australia’s next dominant Tier Two wagering group under a united brand.
NextBet will be led by, Scott Cross, who will serve as Executive Director. The move is a strategic restructure designed to position the business for its next phase of inorganic expansion.
“The formation of NextBet creates the foundation to scale rapidly through an ambitious M&A strategy, while investing in proprietary capabilities to meet the demands of a changing wagering market,” said Cross.
Strategic Vision: The Path to Tier Two Dominance
NextBet is pursuing an aggressive growth strategy – rolling up undercapitalised lower-tier operators while driving operational efficiency through product, speed of profiling and a differentiated user experience that attracts and retains high-value customers.
To support this next phase of expansion, NextBet is actively seeking strategic investors who share its vision for reshaping the mid-market wagering landscape. Investment will be used to accelerate acquisitions, enhance platform capabilities and solidify NextBet’s position as the go-to consolidator in the Australian market.
The current $419M valuation for PointsBet Holdings Limited confirms that the market rewards scaled, tech-enabled operators with focused execution. NextBet’s model builds on this blueprint, designed to fill the emerging leadership void in the Tier Two segment with an advanced offering custom built for modern wagering dynamics.
NextBet is currently in advanced discussions with several additional acquisition targets and expects to announce further transactions in the coming quarters.
The post NextBet Launches as Acquisition Vehicle (AV) to Consolidate Mid-Market Operators; Announces Flagship Acquisition and Growth Strategy appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Aquisitions/Mergers
GRID Acquires Bayes Esports Assets

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GRID, a game data and technology platform, has acquired the intellectual property assets of Bayes Esports following the company’s liquidation proceedings and will integrate the technology into its GRID Bet division.
The acquisition integrates strategic technology components developed by Bayes over nearly a decade, including live data trading solutions, prediction models, and fan engagement tools, into the GRID Data Platform. These technologies will now be powered exclusively by official esports data available only on GRID, accelerating product development and driving innovation across GRID’s entire portfolio, with a particular focus on GRID Bet, the company’s comprehensive solution for regulated esports betting.
“The acquisition of Bayes assets further accelerates GRIDs capabilities to create value for rights holders in esports and shape the next phase of esports betting in particular,” said Moritz Maurer, Founder & CEO of GRID.
The post GRID Acquires Bayes Esports Assets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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