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BETSSON ACQUIRES SPORTS BETTING AND GAMING OPERATOR BETFIRST IN BELGIUM AND ENTERS INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH GROUPE PARTOUCHE TO LAUNCH ONLINE CASINO OFFERING ON THE BELGIAN MARKET
Betsson AB today announces the Group’s acquisition of the leading Belgian sports betting and gaming operator betFIRST for a total value of EUR 120 million, of which up to EUR 3 million is an earnout payment subject to certain conditions being met, all payable in cash. At the same time, Betsson and Groupe Partouche, the publicly listed leading French casino operator, today announce a new strategic partnership in order to offer online casino services in regulated markets. A first joint online casino offering should be launched in Belgium during 2023, subject to officially obtaining the required licenses. These two strategic initiatives are fully aligned with Betsson’s ambitions to deliver profitable growth, with a preference for growth in locally regulated markets in the long term.
Betsson has agreed to acquire all shares in the betFIRST Group, which operates a sports betting and gaming business under the brand betFIRST in Belgium. The total up-front consideration of the acquisition is EUR 117 million on a cash and debt-free basis, payable in cash. In addition, Betsson may pay up to EUR 3 million as earnout, subject to delivery on certain agreed financial targets. The initial consideration for the acquisition is equivalent to a multiple of 10.0x betFIRST’s estimated EBITDA for the financial year 2023.
Established in 2011, betFIRST is a leading B2C operator in the locally regulated online gaming market in Belgium, offering sports betting and dice games. betFIRST is a leading brand for sports betting in Belgium with a proven track record of successful customer acquisition and revenue growth. betFIRST holds a license for online sports betting and a license for online dice games in Belgium. In addition to the online business, the company also operates across approximately 450 points of sale in Belgium and also owns a gaming arcade. In the last financial year ending 31 December 2022, betFIRST recorded net gaming revenue of EUR 51.2 million and adjusted EBITDA of EUR 10.0 million.
The new partnership with leading French casino operator Groupe Partouche will combine Betsson’s expertise in the online gaming sector and Groupe Partouche’s market leadership in land-based casinos to deliver an attractive online casino offering tailored to the local market. Groupe Partouche operates land-based casinos in France and Switzerland and also holds an offline casino license in Belgium, which can be extended to an online casino license. With such a license, a full range of online casino products can be offered to the Belgian market. Subject to the required licenses being granted by the Belgian regulator, the aim is to launch the online casino offering in Belgium during 2023. Betsson and Groupe Partouche are committed to developing their new collaboration and exploring additional ways to expand the partnership.
The acquisition of betFIRST and the partnership with Groupe Partouche will provide Betsson with critical access to the competitive Belgian market, a further diversified geographical footprint and an increased share of revenue from locally regulated markets. Betsson intends to continue operating the betFIRST sports betting business as it is today while exploring potential synergies in the mid-to-long term.
Pontus Lindwall, CEO and President of Betsson AB, commented: “We are very excited about entering the Belgian market together with our partners Groupe Partouche and see a strong strategic fit with the acquisition of betFIRST. At Betsson, our growth strategy revolves around extending our presence into new markets, particularly in locally regulated or soon-to-be regulated markets. Belgium, where the online gaming market is regulated since 2011, aligns very well with this strategy. Our business model is highly scalable, and these initiatives will add revenue and strengthen our profitability over time.”
Betsson is able to finance the acquisition with existing cash from its balance sheet and within existing credit facilities.
Completion of the acquisition of betFIRST is not conditional on regulatory approvals and is expected to occur on or around July 5, 2023.
Betsson has engaged Lazard as financial advisor and Gernandt & Danielsson as principal legal advisor (together with Van Bael & Bellis and Edson Legal as legal advisors in Belgium) in connection with the acquisition.
GR8 Tech launches ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame—an easy-to-launch solution designed specifically for the needs of experienced businesses: casino brands aiming to dominate sports betting without hiring an army of sportsbook specialists, or operators fed up with tech bottlenecks stunting their growth.
“We dedicate a lot of time to talking to the market, and one thing kept coming up: too many products are built for entry-level needs. That’s fine… until it is not. Operators that grow beyond the basics often hit a wall. Their current platform needs improvement and differentiation that comes slowly, if at all; at the same time, switching to something new just means discovering another set of limitations down the line,” shares Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech. “There was clearly a gap—a well-formed demand for a solution tailored to mature operators who know what their players want and are done settling for tech that slows them down or boxes them in.”
ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame was created to tackle these advanced challenges, enabling operators to differentiate with market-leading content and a customizable front-end while maintaining full control over crucial areas like player engagement and risk management. Feature-rich right out of the box, the solution drives the ultimate revenue boost with its AI-driven toolset.
“ULTIM8 is built for results. Operators using our iFrame solution see up to 50% GGR uplift through features that come ready to deploy—odds personalization, parlay tools, and dynamic cashout,” comments Sergey Ghazaryan, CRO at GR8 Tech. “Coupled with the geo-tailored layouts and widget-based frontend flexibility, these things give operators the ability to shape the ultimate experience for their audiences, while keeping full control over performance and profitability.”
With all these advanced features, GR8 Tech’s ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame still maintains one of the key decisive factors of all iFrame solutions—quick launch time. As long as operators provide everything necessary for the launch from their end in time, the business can go live within just one week.
Sergey Ghazaryan adds: “GR8 Tech aims to become the first choice for operators looking for high-performance sportsbook-driven solutions. ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame is a very important step towards this goal—an ultimate showcase of our sportsbook expertise, packed in a convenient, easy-to-integrate form, tailored to the demands of the mature operators that have been unanswered up until now. Well—not anymore.”
Contact GR8 Tech for an in-depth guide through the ultimate sportsbook solution.
The post ULTIM8 SPORTSBOOK IFRAME: Ultimate Solution for Operators Who Have Seen It All appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Rapidly expanding content provider offers tasty treats and sugary thrills with the brand new Sugar Mix slot
Popular iGaming content provider BGaming is serving up a delectable treat with the launch of the brand new Sugar Mix slot.
Matching the ever-present demand for creative sweet-themed slot action, Sugar Mix invites players into a charming pastry shop where the shopkeeper guides them on a quest for big wins and exciting bonus action.
Sugar Mix immerses players in a colorful world of sugary delight, while an exciting Free Spins bonus round, complete with the dynamic Swap feature, keeps players on the edge of their seats for every spin. The game cooks up a tasty 4,000x maximum win, while the attractive 97.37% RTP is the icing on this delightful cake.
This flavorsome theme also lends itself perfectly to mobile gameplay, and the aesthetic will instantly resonate with players used to playing candy-colored mobile titles.
Players who want to sweeten the deal even further can treat themselves using the Buy Bonus feature, allowing them to trigger the Free Spins bonus with the Swap mechanic for 50x their stake.
Julia Alekseeva, CPO, said: “The Sugar Mix concept was created by BGamers during last year’s company Hackathon, with our development team diligently helping bring it to life.
We’ve poured a lot of creativity into crafting a world that is as delightful to look at as it is to play in. We’re particularly excited about the Swap feature, which adds an extra layer of anticipation during the Free Spins round and helps elevate the Sugar Mix from similarly themed games.”
The post BGaming Bakes Some Delicious Slot Fun with Sugar Mix appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
AGS (NYSE: AGS), a leading supplier of high-performing slot, table, and interactive products and services to the global gaming industry, today announced two key appointments that will significantly strengthen its international operations. Arthur Rotziokos has been appointed as the Senior Director of Product Management – Asia-Pacific (APAC), and Richard Orozco has assumed the role of Senior Director of Product Management – International. Both report to Rob Ziems, AGS’ Chief Business and Legal Officer, who oversees international business.
“With tremendous growth potential and plenty of greenfield in international markets, AGS is well-poised to seize new opportunities on the global stage. Both Arthur and Richard bring unparalleled expertise and a deep well of gaming industry experience that will be vital to AGS’ global expansion strategy. Their leadership will be instrumental as we accelerate our international reach and advance our product offerings in these key markets,” said Rob Ziems.
Arthur Rotziokos, based in Sydney, Australia, will lead AGS’ entry into the rapidly expanding APAC market. With over three decades of experience in the gaming industry, including his most recent role as Vice President of Research & Development at Light & Wonder, Rotziokos is well-positioned to drive AGS’ strategic expansion across the region. His career spans roles at leading companies such as Ainsworth Game Technology and IGT, where he developed strong industry relationships and pioneered game development initiatives that led to business growth in global markets.
Richard Orozco, an experienced leader in international product management, will oversee AGS’ global product strategies, focusing on regions such as Latin America and Europe. Orozco joins AGS with extensive experience in managing product portfolios across international markets, including his most recent role as Vice President of Product Strategy at Ainsworth Game Technology. In his new role, he will work to drive market performance, optimize product lifecycles, and strengthen AGS’ market share in key international territories.
With both Rotziokos and Orozco taking on pivotal roles, AGS is poised to build its brand and gain a foothold in key international markets, further enhancing its commitment to delivering cutting-edge gaming products and solutions to operators and players worldwide.
The post AGS Appoints Arthur Rotziokos and Richard Orozco to Lead International Growth Efforts appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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